adj. prenom. 1. both plant- and flesh-eating; -- said of animals. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

v. t. To make toneless; to deprive of vowel quality. -- De*vo`cal*i*za"tion, n. [1913 Webster]

If we take a high vowel, such as (i) [= nearly i of bit], and devocalize it, we obtain a hiss which is quite distinct enough to stand for a weak (jh). H. Sweet. [1913 Webster]

n. [ L. devocare to call off or away; de + vocare to call. ] A calling off or away. [ R. ] Hallywell. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ OE. devoiden to leave, OF. desvuidier, desvoidier, to empty out. See Void. ] To empty out; to remove. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ See Devoid, v. t. ] 1. Void; empty; vacant. [ Obs. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Destitute; not in possession; -- with of; as, devoid of sense; devoid of pity or of pride. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ F., fr. L. debere to owe. See Due. ] Duty; service owed; hence, due act of civility or respect; -- now usually in the plural; as, they paid their devoirs to the ladies. “Do now your devoid, young knights!” Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ L. devolutus, p. p. of devolvere. See Devolve. ] To devolve. [ Obs. ] Foxe. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ LL. devolutio: cf. F. dévolution. ] 1. The act of rolling down. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The devolution of earth down upon the valleys. Woodward. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Transference from one person to another; a passing or devolving upon a successor. [ 1913 Webster ]

The devolution of the crown through a . . . channel known and conformable to old constitutional requisitions. De Quincey. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Devolved p. pr. & vb. n. Devolving. ] [ L. devolvere, devolutum, to roll down; de + volvere to roll down; de + volvere to roll. See Voluble. ] 1. To roll onward or downward; to pass on. [ 1913 Webster ]

Every headlong stream
Devolves its winding waters to the main. Akenside. [ 1913 Webster ]

Devolved his rounded periods. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To transfer from one person to another; to deliver over; to hand down; -- generally with upon, sometimes with to or into. [ 1913 Webster ]

They devolved a considerable share of their power upon their favorite. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

They devolved their whole authority into the hands of the council of sixty. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To pass by transmission or succession; to be handed over or down; -- generally with on or upon, sometimes with to or into; as, after the general fell, the command devolved upon (or on) the next officer in rank. [ 1913 Webster ]

His estate . . . devolved to Lord Somerville. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act or process of devolving;; devolution. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One of a breed of hardy cattle originating in the country of Devon, England. Those of pure blood have a deep red color. The small, longhorned variety, called North Devons, is distinguished by the superiority of its working oxen. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Geol.) Of or pertaining to Devon or Devonshire in England; as, the Devonian rocks, period, or system. [ 1913 Webster ]

Devonian age (Geol.), the age next older than the Carboniferous and later than the Silurian; -- called also the Age of fishes. The various strata of this age compose the Devonian formation or system, and include the old red sandstone of Great Britain. They contain, besides plants and numerous invertebrates, the bony portions of many large and remarkable fishes of extinct groups. See the Diagram under Geology. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The Devonian age or formation. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. devoratio. See Devour. ] The act of devouring. [ Obs. ] Holinshed. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Devote, Votary. ] A votary. [ Obs. ] J. Gregory. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Devoted; p. pr. & vb. n. Devoting. ] [ L. devotus, p. p. of devovere; de + vovere to vow. See Vow, and cf. Devout, Devow. ] 1. To appropriate by vow; to set apart or dedicate by a solemn act; to consecrate; also, to consign over; to doom; to evil; to devote one to destruction; the city was devoted to the flames. [ 1913 Webster ]

No devoted thing that a man shall devote unto the Lord . . . shall be sold or redeemed. Lev. xxvii. 28. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To execrate; to curse. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To give up wholly; to addict; to direct the attention of wholly or compound; to attach; -- often with a reflexive pronoun; as, to devote one's self to science, to one's friends, to piety, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thy servant who is devoted to thy fear. Ps. cxix. 38. [ 1913 Webster ]

They devoted themselves unto all wickedness. Grew. [ 1913 Webster ]

A leafless and simple branch . . . devoted to the purpose of climbing. Gray.

Syn. -- To addict; apply; dedicate; consecrate; resign; destine; doom; consign. See Addict. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. devotus, p. p. ] Devoted; addicted; devout. [ Obs. ] Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A devotee. [ Obs. ] Sir E. Sandys. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Consecrated to a purpose; strongly attached; zealous; devout; as, a devoted admirer. -- De*vot"ed*ly, adv. -- De*vot"ed*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who is wholly devoted; esp., one given wholly to religion; one who is superstitiously given to religious duties and ceremonies; a bigot. [ 1913 Webster ]

While Father Le Blanc was very devout he was not a devotee. A. S. Hardy. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state of being devoted, or set apart by a vow. [ R. ] Bp. Hurd. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who devotes; a worshiper. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. dévotion, L. devotio. ] 1. The act of devoting; consecration. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The state of being devoted; addiction; eager inclination; strong attachment love or affection; zeal; especially, feelings toward God appropriately expressed by acts of worship; devoutness. [ 1913 Webster ]

Genius animated by a fervent spirit of devotion. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Act of devotedness or devoutness; manifestation of strong attachment; act of worship; prayer. “The love of public devotion.” Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Disposal; power of disposal. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

They are entirely at our devotion, and may be turned backward and forward, as we please. Godwin. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A thing consecrated; an object of devotion. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Churches and altars, priests and all devotions,
Tumbled together into rude chaos. Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]

Days of devotion. See under Day.

Syn. -- Consecration; devoutness; religiousness; piety; attachment; devotedness; ardor; earnestness. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. devotionalis. ] Pertaining to, suited to, or used in, devotion; as, a devotional posture; devotional exercises; a devotional frame of mind.

n. The practice of a devotionalist. A. H. Clough. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a devotional manner; toward devotion. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. One given to devotion, esp. to excessive formal devotion. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ It. ] A devotee. Dr. J. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. ] A worshiper; one given to devotion. [ Obs. ] Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Devoured p. pr. & vb. n. Devouring. ] [ F. dévorer, fr. L. devorare; de + vorare to eat greedily, swallow up. See Voracious. ] 1. To eat up with greediness; to consume ravenously; to feast upon like a wild beast or a glutton; to prey upon. [ 1913 Webster ]

Some evil beast hath devoured him. Gen. xxxvii. 20. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To seize upon and destroy or appropriate greedily, selfishly, or wantonly; to consume; to swallow up; to use up; to waste; to annihilate. [ 1913 Webster ]

Famine and pestilence shall devour him. Ezek. vii. 15. [ 1913 Webster ]

I waste my life and do my days devour. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To enjoy with avidity; to appropriate or take in eagerly by the senses. [ 1913 Webster ]

Longing they look, and gaping at the sight,
Devour her o'er with vast delight. Dryden.

Syn. -- To consume; waste; destroy; annihilate. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. That may be devoured. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who, or that which, devours. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a devouring manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ OE. devot, devout, F. dévot, from L. devotus devoted, p. p. of devovere. See Devote, v. t. ] 1. Devoted to religion or to religious feelings and duties; absorbed in religious exercises; given to devotion; pious; reverent; religious. [ 1913 Webster ]

A devout man, and one that feared God. Acts x. 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

We must be constant and devout in the worship of God. Rogers. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Expressing devotion or piety; as, eyes devout; sighs devout; a devout posture. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Warmly devoted; hearty; sincere; earnest; as, devout wishes for one's welfare. [ 1913 Webster ]

The devout, devoutly religious persons, those who are sincerely pious.

Syn. -- Holy; pure; religious; prayerful; pious; earnest; reverent; solemn; sincere. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A devotee. [ Obs. ] Sheldon. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A devotional composition, or part of a composition; devotion. [ Obs. ] Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Full of devotion. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Sacred. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

To take her from austerer check of parents,
To make her his by most devoutful rights. Marston. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Destitute of devotion. -- De*vout"less*ly, adv. -- De*vout"less*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. 1. In a devout and reverent manner; with devout emotions; piously. [ 1913 Webster ]

Cast her fair eyes to heaven and prayed devoutly. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Sincerely; solemnly; earnestly. [ 1913 Webster ]

'T is a consummation
Devoutly to be wished. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Quality or state of being devout. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ See Devote, v. t. ] To devote. [ Obs. ] Cowley. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ F. dévouer, L. devovere. See Devote, v. t. ] 1. To give up; to devote. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. [ Cf. OF. desvoer. Cf. Disavow. ] To disavow; to disclaim. [ Obs. ] G. Fletcher. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. grandaevus; grandig grand+ aevum lifetime, age. ] Of great age; aged; longlived. [ R. ] Bailey. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. indevotus: cf. F. indévot. Cf. Indevout. ] Not devoted. [ Obs. ] Bentley. Clarendon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. indevotio: cf. F. indévotion. ] Lack of devotion; impiety; irreligion. “An age of indevotion.” Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. in- not + devout. Cf. Indevote. ] Not devout. -- In*de*vout"ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

n. Mistaken devotion. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Devoted in person, or by one's own will. Hawthorne. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Self-devotion. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of devoting one's self, or the state of being self-devoted; willingness to sacrifice one's own advantage or happiness for the sake of others; self-sacrifice. [ 1913 Webster ]