Dedicatees

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. People to whom a book, piece of music, or other work is formally offered as a tribute
2. Those honored by having a creative work or ceremony addressed and offered to them as a mark of respect
3. Individuals recognized in a published work or performance as the persons it is presented to in tribute

Etymology: "Dedicatees" is the plural of "dedicatee," a formation made by adding the suffix "-ee" to "dedicate." That suffix comes via Middle English from Old French "-é," the past-participle ending that Latin "-ātus" became in French, so the root sits in the Latin verb "dedicare," meaning "to devote" or "to declare solemnly." The "-ee" ending marks the person on the receiving end of an action, as in "employee" or "trainee," so a dedicatee is the one to whom something is dedicated, such as a book, a piece of music, or a building. The word is a transparent English coinage rather than a borrowing: once "dedicate" was established in English, speakers could add "-ee" to name the recipient, and "dedicatee" followed that pattern. Its plural simply adds "-s," so "dedicatees" refers to several such recipients at once.

Synonyms: recipient, honoree