Ben C Smith

Sacer, sacra, sacrum is an adjective, though of course virtually any adjective can be used substantively as a noun.

Ben.

Roger Pearse

I would read it, on a flyleaf, as "Dedicated to my dearest father."

darstec

Couple of my dictionaries say sacrum, sacri is a neuter noun. None mention it as an adjective. However Lewis & Short mention it as a a noun, adjective and verb. Handly little word, isn't it. So in this case it could also be read as an adjective, genitive singular thus -- to my most beloved holy father.

Makes sense in light of the OP's second reply.

Thanks Ben. I was in too much of a hurry for careful consideration of the translation.

Chris Weimer

In Latin, neuter adjectives can often be made into substantive nouns. Ben was close when he said "consecrated for" but is mistaken because sacrum isn't from a verb at all. When used substantively, it means "a holy thing" - all neuter adjectives used substantively essentially have this same format. Likewise, if it were masculine, "sacer", it could mean a holy man.

So: "a holy offering for my dearest father"

Chris Weimer

Ancient dedications usually consisted of more than a mere line.

darstec

Lewis & Short say it IS a verb too. Pereus website is as usual not functioning properly or I would have provided their link for its use of a verb. I don't know where my translation came from as the dative for sacrum would be sacri. Ever since my ordeal in the hospital and congestive heart failure my brain fails at times to co-operate properly.

Your translation does seem closer to the meaning although I think it is a rather odd attribution for a modern psychology book. But then if the book has a religious slant as the OP wrote, then it does make some sort of sense as a dedication.

Chris Weimer

sacrum is not a verb. Perhaps you are confusing it with sacro, sacrare "to set apart as sacred, to consecrate"? And the dative of sacrum would be sacro, sacris (sg. / pl.), as it is a 1/2 adjective, not a 3rd declension adjective.