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.