devotedness 
In Inmiiiii Mill HIT tlirrr is a principle that delights ill hi'- 
rule virtue, that admires ;iii'l revera inrri illt^tri"ii.> t"i 
se.lf-Hn<Titiriiin il>'i-i>t<'iltu'*x. t'hnuuin;r. Perfect Lift 1 , p. 2:!fi. 
devotee (dov-o-te'), [< devote + -eel.] One 
who is devoted or self-dedicated to a cause 
or practice ; a votary ; specifically, one given 
wholly to religious devotion ; an extravagantly 
or superstitiously devout person. 
A devotee is one of those who disparage religion by their 
indiscreet ami unreasonable introduction of the mention 
of virtue on all occasions. Steete, Spectator, No. 354. 
Christianity has had, in all ages and in all sects, its devo- 
fiv and niartyin. Story, Salem, Sept. 18, 1828. 
= Syn. /calot, enthusiast. 
devoteeism (dov-o-te'izm), n. [< devotee + 
-ism.] The tendency or disposition to be or 
become a devotee. 
Ritualistic dcvoteeigin is the unhealthy development of 
religious introspection. 
J. Omn, Evenings with Skeptics, II. 477. 
devotement (de-vot'ment), n. [< devote + 
-ment.] The act of devoting or consecrating 
by a vow; the state of being devoted. [Rare.] 
Her [Iphigenia's] denotement was the demand of Apollo. 
Bp. llurd, Notes on Horace's Art of Poetry. 
devoter (de-vo'ter), n. 1. One who devotes. 
2f. A worshiper. Piers Plowman. 
deyoterert, . [A corrupt form of advoutrer. 
Cf. derotorV.] An adulterer. 
He that hreaketh wedlock with his neighbour's wife, 
let him he slain, both the devoterer and the advouteress. 
Becon, Works (ed. Parker Soc.), I. 450. 
devotion (de-vo'shon), n. [< ME. devotiouii, 
devotion, devocioun, < OF. devotion, F. devotion 
= Pr. deeotio = Sp. devotion = Pg. devocSo = 
It. divozione, < L. devotio(n-), devotion, <dcvo- 
tus, pp. of devovere, devote: see devote.] 1. 
The act of devoting ; a definitive setting apart, 
appropriating, or consecrating: as, the devo- 
tion of one's means to a certain purpose; the 
devotion of one's life to the service of God. 
Its purpose [ Brook Farm] was so sincere, its conduct 
so irreproachable, its devotion to ends purely humane so 
evident, that malice could find no grounds for assailing it. 
0. B. Frothingham, George Ripley, p. 191. 
2. The state of being devoted, (a) Application to 
or observance of religious duties and practices; especially, 
earnestness in acts of worship ; devoutness. 
Neverthelesse to them that with Devotion behold it [the 
golden gate of the temple of Solomon] a tfar ys grauntyd 
clene remission. 
Torkington, Diarie of Eng. Travell, p. 30. 
Devotion consists in an ascent of the mind towards God, 
attended with holy breathings of soul. 
Bp. Atterbury, Sermons, II. xxi. 
There was still a sadness of heart upon her, and a depth 
of devotion, in which lay all her strength. HH..I.H,. 
(b) Earnest and faithful service arising from love, friend- 
ship, patriotism, etc. ; enthusiastic manifestation of at- 
tachment. 
Sacrificing to the wishes of his Parliament a minister 
whose crime had been a devotion too zealous to the inter- 
ests of his prerogative. Moxavlay, Hallam's Const. Hist. 
The Plantagenet history can show no such instances of 
enthusiastic devotion as lighted up the dark days of the 
Stewarts. Stubbg, Const. Hist., 457. 
(r) Close attention or application in general : as, his devo- 
tion to this pursuit impaired his health. 
He seeks their hate with greater devotion than they can 
render it him. Shak., Cor., ii. 2. 
Their . . . tyrannic dUl inforce them to embrace my 
offer with no small devotion. 
Capt. John Smith, True Travels, II. 200. 
3. An act of worship; a religious exercise, (a) 
Practice of prayer and praise : now generally in the plural. 
An aged, holy man, . . . 
That day and night said his devotion. 
Spenser, F. Q., I. x. 46. 
Saying so many Ave-Maries and Pater-Nostcrs, as is their 
devotion. Capt. John Smith, True Travels, I. 7. 
They returned again to our Lady Church, where was per- 
formed very long and tedious devotion. 
Coryat, Crudities, I. 39. 
(b) Alms given as an act of worship; offerings made at 
divine service. [Archaic.] 
The Deacons, Church-wardens, or other fit persons . . . 
shall receive the Alms for the Poor, and other Devotions 
of the People, in a decent Basin. 
Book of Common Prayer, Holy Communion. 
4f. Something consecrated ; an object of devo- 
tion. 
As I passed by and beheld your devotions (in the revised 
version, "observed the objects of your worship"]. 
Acts xvii. 23. 
rliurehes and altars, priests and all devotions, 
Tumbled together into one rude chaos. 
Bean, and Ft. 
6f. Power of devoting or applying to use ; dis- 
posal; biddiug. 
Take my keys, 
liold, plate, and jewels, all's at thy devotion. 
B. Jonson, Volpone, ii. 2. 
Arundel Castle would keep that rich corner of the coun- 
try at his majesty's devotion. Clarendon. 
1583 
By tlies,' insinuations he (Colonel Nathaniel Bacon] 
wrought his men into HO perfect an unanimity, that they 
were one and all at his derntinn. l^rrrifii, Virginia,! 97. 
= 8yn. 1. Consecration, dedication, devoteilness. 2 (n). 
riftii. tiinl/inriu, etc. (See religion.) (b). Attachment, 
Affr'ctiim, etc. (see low), zeal, fidelity, constancy. 
devotionairt (de-vo-shon-ar'), n. [< F. as if 
"dei-iitiiiiiiKiiri, t ilii-otion, devotion: see devo- 
tion.] A devotee. Davies. 
The Lord Chief Justice Hales, a profound common law- 
yer, and both devotionair and moralist, affected natural 
philosophy. Koycr Xorth, Lord Guilford, II. 264. 
devotional (de-vo'shon-al), a. and n. [< devo- 
tion + -/.] 1. a. Pertaining to religious devo- 
tion ; used in devotion ; suited to devotion : as, 
a devotional posture ; devotional exercises ; a 
devotional frame of mind. 
How much the devotional spirit of the church has suf- 
fered by that necessary evil, the Reformation ! 
Coleridge, Table-Talk. 
= Syn. Devout, Devotional. See devout. 
fl.t n. pi. Forms of devotion. 
Nor have they had cither more cause for, or better 'Me- 
cess in, their disputing! against the devotwnali of the 
Church of England. 
Bp. Gauden, Tears of the Church, p. 87. 
devotionalist (de-vd'shon-al-ist), . [< devo- 
tional + -int.] Same as "devotionist. [Rare.] 
It i! but to give a religiou! turn to his natural softness, 
and you have the complete image of a French devotional- 
ist. Coventry, Philemon to Hydaspes, II. 
devptionallv (de-vo'shon-al-i), adv. In a de- 
votional manner; toward devotion: as, devo- 
tionally inclined. 
devotionist (de-vo'shon-ist), n. [< devotion + 
-int.] A person given" to devotion ; one who is 
superstitiously or formally devout. Also devo- 
tionalist. [Rare.] 
devotiousnesst (de-vo'shus-nes), n. [< *devo- 
tious (not used) (<; devotion + -ous) + -ness.] 
Devoutness; piety. Hammond. 
devotot (de-vo'to), n. [It., < L. devotus: see 
devote and 'devout.] A devotee. 
In confidence of this conceit, such numbers of devotoa in 
all times have pretended enthusiasm and extraordinary 
illapse from heaven. 
J. Spencer, Vanity of Vulgar Prophecies (1665), Pref. a. 2. 
devotor 1 ! (df-vo'tor), . [< LL. devotor, one who 
devotes, < I*. devovere, devote: see devote."] One 
who reverences or worships ; a devout person. 
Beau, and Fl. 
devotor 2 t, [A corrupt form of advouter.] 
An adulterer. 
devour 1 (de-vonr'), v. [< ME. detouren, < OF. 
devorer, devurer, devorir, devourir, F. devorer = 
Pr. Sp. Pg. devorar = It. devorare, < L. devo- 
rare, devour, < de, down, + vorare, consume, 
devour: see voratious, vorant.] I. trans. 1. 
To eat up entirely ; eat ravenously ; consume 
as food. 
We will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him. 
Gen. xxxvil. 20. 
And ever and anon the wolf would steal 
The children and devour. 
Tennyson, Coming of Arthur. 
2. To consume destructively, recklessly, or 
wantonly; make away with ; destroy; waste. 
As SHI in as this thy son was come, which hath devoured 
thy living with harlots. Luke xv. 30. 
Devouring pestilence hanga in our air. 
ShaJt., Rich. II., i. 3. 
They never adventured to know any thing ; nor euer did 
any thing but demure the fruits of other mens labours. 
Capt. John Smith, True Travels, I. 145. 
We all know . . . what a devouring passion it [the war 
fever] becomes in those whom it assails. 
O. W. Holrnet, Old Vol. of Life, p. 3. 
3. To swallow up, literally or figuratively; 
draw into conjunction or possession; absorb; 
engorge ; take in : as, to devour a book ; the usu- 
rers have devoured his estate. 
I saw (alas) the gaping earth devoure 
The spring, the place, and all cleane out of sight. 
Spenser, Visions of Petrarch. 
Which [the scribes] devour widows' houses, and for a shew 
make long prayers. Luke xx. 47. 
I perceive these lords 
At this encounter do so much admire, 
That they devoure their reason ; and scarce think 
Their eyes do offices of truth. Shak., Tempest, v. 1. 
Now speak of the Haven ; rather devouring then en- 
creased by a little river. Sandys, Travailes, p. 29. 
Our ocean shall these petty brooks devour. 
Dekker and Webster, Sir Thomas Wyat, p. 6. 
4. To gaze at absorbingly; look upon with 
avidity; view with delight. 
Longing they look, and gaping at the sight, 
Devour her o'er and o'er with vast delight. 
Dryden. 
With an unguarded look she now deeour'd 
My nearer Face. Prior, Solomon, ii 
devoutful 
Hence 6. To give delight to; charm; en- 
chant. [Rare.] 
Bravely the figure of this harpy hast thou 
Perform'd, my Ariel ; a grace it had, devouring. 
Shak., Tempest, ill. 3. 
To devour the ("r one'B) way, distance, r course, to 
ooompUn the distance with impetuous haste. 
He seem'd In running \n devour the way, 
Staying no longer question. 
Shak., 2 Hen. IV., I. 1. 
Wat was wouiuily angry with Sir John Newton, Knight 
(Sword-bearer to the King then in presence), for devour- 
ing /"'* distance and not making his approaches manner- 
ly enough unto him. Suiter, Worthies, II. 346. 
The signal once given, they [the horses] strike, devour 
the course, hurrying along with unremitting velocity. 
Strutt, Sports and Pastimes, p. 101. 
Syn. 1. Consume, etc. See eat. 
H. intrans. To consume. [Rare.] 
A lire devoureth before them, and behind them a flame 
Inn net h. Joel il. 3. 
devour 2 t, . See dever. 
devourable (de-vour'a-bl), a. [< devour 1 + 
-able. Cf. OF', devoraole, devourable, devour- 
ing, voracious.] Capable of or fit for being 
devoured. 
A clear and undebauch'd appetite renders everything 
sweet and delightful to a sound body, and (as Homer ex- 
presses it) devourable. Plutarch, Morals, II. 116(Ord MS.). 
devourer (de-vour'er), n. 1. One who de- 
vours; one who or that which eats greedily, 
consumes, or preys upon. 
Carp and tench do best together, all other fish being 
devourers of their spawn. Mortimer, Husbandry. 
2. A local English name of the glutinous hag, 
Myxine glutinosa. 
devouresst, [ME. devouresse; < devour 1 + 
-ess, after equiv. OF. devoreresse, devourer esse."] 
A female devourer. Wyclif. 
devouringly (df-vour'ing-li), adv. In a devour- 
ing manner. 
devourment (de-vour'ment), n. [< detour + 
-ment. Cf. OF. devoremeiit, devourement.] The 
act or process of devouring or consuming. 
Could not thy remorseless foeman brook 
Time's sure devourment ! 
R. W. OUder, A Portrait of Servetus. 
devout (de-vouf), a. and n. [< ME. devout, also 
devote, < O'F. devot, devoult, F. devot = 8p. Pg. de- 
voto = It. devoto, divoto, < L. devotus, devoted. 
pp. of devovere, vow, devote : see devote, v. and 
a. The adj. devote is a doublet of devout."] I. a. 
1. Yielding a solemn and reverential devotion 
to God in religious exercises, particularly in 
prayer ; devoted to the worship and service of 
God ; pious ; religious ; consecrated in spirit. 
The same man was just and devout. Luke ii. 25. 
The Spaniard is very devout in his Way, for I have seen 
him kneel in the very Dirt when the Ave-Mary-bell rings. 
Howell, Letters, I. ill. 32. 
Let a man consider, . . . when he prays in private, 
whether he be as composed, and reverent, and devout in 
his behaviour as he is when the eyes of a great assembly 
are upon him. Bp. Atterbury, Sermon!, II. xil. 
And holy hymns from which the life devout 
Of saints and martyrs has wellnigh gone out. 
Whittier, On a Prayer-book. 
2. Expressing devotion or piety. 
I love a holy devout Sermon. Howell, Letters, I. vt 32. 
With uplifted hands, and eyes /,""'. 
Grateful to heaven. Milton, P. I.. . xi. 863. 
3. Sincere ; solemn ; earnest : as, you have 
my devout wishes for your safety. =8yn. 1. De- 
vout, Devotional ; prayerful, godly, saintly. Devout per- 
tains especially to the internal, devotional to the exter- 
nal ; hut this distinction is not always observed. A de. 
vout heart, a devout man, a devout look that Is, a look 
such as would be produced by devout feeling (see ex- 
tracts above) ; a devotional attitude, a devotional book. 
There is something . . . natively great and good in a 
person that is truly devout. Stale, Tatler, No. 211. 
In Mr. Fairer, the head of the family, [was seen] a de- 
rational energy, put forth In continual combat with the 
earthly energies that tempted him away to the world. 
De Quincey, Secret Societies, i. 
H.t n. 1. A devotee. 
They are not to be the ordinary followers of Antichrist, 
hut they are to be in his special devout*, and as it were 
sworn slaves. Sheldon, Miracles, p. 247. 
2. A devotional composition. 
This is the substance of his first section till we come to 
the devout of it, modelled Into the form of a private psal- 
ter. Milton, Eikonoklastes, i. 
devoutet, adv. [ME.; < devout, a.] Devoutly. 
devoutfalt (de-vont'ful), a. [Irreg. < devout + 
-ftd, 1. A similar formation is grateful.] I. 
Full of or characterized by devoutness; devout. 
2. Sacred; solemn. 
To take her from austerer check of parents, 
To make her his by most devoutSul rights. 
Marston and Webtter, Malcontent, i. S. 
