Devocioun

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Archaic spelling of devotion, meaning religious piety and prayerful worship ; a deep and earnest loyalty or dedication to a person or cause
2. Middle English term for devout religious worship and prayer ; the ardent commitment or faithful attachment a person feels toward someone or something
3. An older form of devotion referring to pious prayer and worship ; sincere, steadfast dedication and loyalty given to a person or purpose

Etymology: In Middle English, "devocioun" meant a solemn vow or a binding pledge of oneself to God or a cause. Its ancestor is the Latin "devotio", from "devovere", "to vow solemnly". The Roman sense was startlingly literal. A commander facing defeat could formally devote himself and the enemy to the gods of the underworld, then charge into the fighting to die, as Livy describes. The act was a binding bargain, not a feeling. The word reached English through Old French "devocion". Its sense of ardent piety grew out of the older idea of dedication, and over time the pledge gave way to heartfelt religious devotion and later to loyal attachment to a person or pursuit.

Synonyms: devotion, piety, fervor, dedication, faith

Antonyms: apathy, indifference, irreverence