dedicata

Dedicata is the feminine singular form of the Italian adjective dedicato, meaning dedicated or devoted. It is used to describe something that has been set apart for a particular person or purpose, or to indicate that a work is assigned as a dedication to someone. In Italian, dedicata accompanies feminine nouns, for example: una canzone dedicata a Maria (a song dedicated to Maria) or una poesia dedicata agli studenti (a poem dedicated to the students). The phrase can also appear in past participle constructions, as in la canzone è dedicata a… (the song is dedicated to…).

In publishing and media, the concept is linked to the act of dedicating a work. The act itself is usually expressed with the noun dedicazione or dedica, in phrases such as la dedica dell’autore (the author’s dedication) or una poesia dedicata a un amico, illustrating how dedicata functions as an agreeing adjective.

Cognates appear in other Romance languages with similar usage. In Spanish and Portuguese, dedicada is the feminine form of dedicado, used in phrases like obra dedicada a… or canción dedicada a…. These forms share the general sense of devotion or assignment of a work to a person or cause.

Etymology: dedicata comes from Latin dedicatus, via the Italian verb dedicare, meaning to dedicate.

See also: dedication, dedication page, dedicator.