devotio

dēvōtĭo, ōnis, f. [devoveo].

I.

A devoting, consecrating.

A.

Prop.:

Deciorum devotiones,

the devoting of themselves, Cic. N. D. 3, 6, 15; cf.

vitae,

id. Rab. Post. 1 fin.;

capitis,

id. Dom. 57; a vow, Vulg. Act. 23, 1. —

B.

Transf., fealty, allegiance, devotedness (late Lat.):

alicujus erga rempublicam, Treb. Poll. Gall. 14: Aquileiensium pro Romanis, Capitol. Maxim. et Balb. 11: quis fortes animat devotio mentes,

Nemes. Cyneg. 83 al. —Hence,

2.

(Cf. devotus, P. a. no. B.) In Christian authors, piety, devotion, zeal, Lact. 2, 11 med.:

inutilis est Deo qui devotione caret,

id. 5, 19, 13; cf.

coupled with religio,

Lampr. Heliog. 3.—

II.

A cursing, curse, imprecation, execration, Nep. Alcib. 4, 5:

pilae in quibus devotio fuerit scripta,

id. ib. 6, 5:

dissimulata nauseantis devotione,

Petr. 103, 6; v. also Macr. Sat. 3, 9.—

III.

Sorcery, enchantment; and concr., a magical formula, incantation, spell, Suet. Calig. 3:

carmina et devotiones,

id. ib.; Tac. A. 2, 69:

devotionibus et veneno peremisse,

id. ib. 3, 13;

4, 52: conjugium (i. e. conjugem) principis devotionibus petere,

id. ib. 12, 65 al.—

B.

Transf., any form of prayer: devotiones faustae, Ap. M. 11, p. 265, 5.