dedicar

Dedicar is a verb used in Spanish and Portuguese with the meaning to devote, dedicate, or set apart for a purpose. It can refer to devoting time or effort to a task, or to dedicating an object to someone, such as a book or a song. The reflexive form in both languages, dedicarse a, expresses devoting oneself to a field or activity.

Etymology: Dedicar comes from Latin dedicare, formed from de- (apart) and dicare (to proclaim or declare), originally conveying the sense of setting something apart for a sacred or special use. In both languages the term broadened to secular uses such as devotion of time, energy, or resources.

Conjugation: In Spanish, dedicar is a regular -ar verb. Present indicative forms include: yo dedico, tú dedicas, él dedica, nosotros dedicamos, vosotros dedicáis, ellos dedican. Other forms follow the standard -ar patterns: preterite dediqué, dedicaste, dedicó, dedícamos, dedicasteis, dedicaron; imperfect dedicaba, dedicabas, dedicaba, dedicated, etc.; subjunctive dedique, dediques, dedique, dediquemos, dediquéis, dediquen. In Portuguese, dedicar is also regular. Present indicative: eu dedico, tu dedicas, ele dedica, nós dedicamos, vocês dedicam. Preterite: eu dediquei, você dedicou, nós dedicamos, eles dedicaram; imperfect and future forms follow regular -ar conjugation as well.

Usage: Spanish speakers often use dedicar to assign time or resources (dedicar tiempo, dedicar esfuerzos) or to dedicate a work to someone (dedicar un libro a alguien). The phrase dedicarse a expresses devotion to a profession or activity, as in dedicarse a la investigación. In Portuguese, similar uses exist: dedicar tempo, dedicar-se a uma profissão, and dedicar um livro a alguém. The noun dedicación (Spanish) or dedicação (Portuguese) denotes the act or quality of dedication, while a dedicatoria page on a book is the dedication.