1 首先, 詞性單純但意義複雜的“delicate”, [ˋdɛləkət], 只當A, 意思有“易碎的/嬌弱的”(偏負面)+“纖細的/細長的/細緻的”(偏正面)+“微妙的/需要小心處理的/棘手的”(偏負面),
衍生字有delicately (Adv)跟delicacy (N):
1.1 The shirt is too delicate to clean in the washing machine.
(這襯衫質料很細緻, 不適合用洗衣機洗）
1.2 She has been in delicate health for some time. (她身體欠佳已有些時日了)
1.3 She has long delicate fingers.
(她有著長而纖細的手指)
1.4 He was a most artistic and delicate writer.
(他是個最優雅細膩的作家)
1.5 In such a delicate situation I have to weigh my words.
(在這樣微妙的情形下, 我必須斟酌一下我的話）
1.6 We are conducting very delicate negotiations. (我們正在進行十分審慎的談判)
1.7 The delicacy of his health alarmed us all.
(他虛弱的身體使我們大家都很擔憂)
2 接著, “dedicate”, [ˋdɛdəket], 當V, 意思是“奉獻/獻身”, 可主動(dedicate A to B)或被動
(A be dedicated to B)使用 (注意這個to是介係詞), 衍生詞“dedicated”
(A“獻身的/專注的/一心一意的”+“專屬的/專用的”)也很重要，
還有“dedication” (N奉獻):
2.1 He dedicated his life to science. (他獻身科學)
2.2 The monument was dedicated to the memory of the hero.
(這座碑是為紀念那位英雄而建造的)
2.3 They were friendly, dedicated and harmless. (這些人都友好, 熱忱, 不會害人)
2.4 dedicated line (電腦)專線, 通常指用來連接上Internet的通訊線路)
2.5 His dedication to teaching gained the respect of his colleagues.
(他專心致力於教學的精神, 贏得了同事們的尊敬)
3 最後, devote, [dɪˋvot], V, 意思有“將…奉獻給/把…專用於”,
可主動(devote A to B)或被動(A be devoted to B)使用 (注意這個to也是介係詞),
衍生詞“devoted” (A“獻身的/虔誠的/專心致志的/忠實的/摯愛的)也很重要,
還有“devotion” (N獻身):
3.1 He devoted himself to writing. (他專心寫作)
3.2 He devoted a major section of his massive
report to an analysis of US aircraft design.
(在他的長篇報告中, 他用了很大的篇幅來分析美國飛機的設計)
3.3 Her life was devoted to the cause of justice. (她為正義事業而獻身)
3.4 He was still devoted to the study of chemistry. (他仍專心致力於化學研究)
3.5 Mrs. Jones had a very devoted husband.
(瓊斯太太有一位忠實的丈夫)
3.6 His devotion to science is well known.
(他對科學的獻身精神為人熟知)
“dedicate”跟“devote”各種用法/意義的高度關聯.
1. 這兩個動詞均有“奉獻”的意思;
2. “dedicate”屬於較正式的用詞, 原意指“莊重地奉獻給神”/“為神聖目的而貢獻”, 現代用法多表示獻身某崇高事業/目的;
3. “devote”屬於普通用詞, 指把全部身心/精力/時間等獻給某目標/事業/某人.
長的超像的“dedicate”跟“delicate”詞類跟意義都不同,
長的不很像的“dedicate”跟“devote”反而詞類/意義/用法都大同小異.
