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devise

di-VYZ/dɪˈvaɪz/

Verbdevises, devising, devised

Noun pluraldevises

9 meanings of devise

Practice

  1. 1
    verbtransitive
    To think carefully and come up with a plan or way to do something.

    Like drawing a map in your head before you start the trip.

    We need to devise a plan to finish the project on time.

    She devised a game the whole class could play indoors.

    Similardesign, invent, formulate, create, develop

    Note
  2. 2
    verbtransitive
    To give your house or land to someone in your will.

    He wants to devise the beach house to his grandchildren.

    In her will, she devised her land to the city for a park.

    Similarbequeath, leave, will

    Note
  3. 3
    nouncountable or uncountable
    The act of giving land or a house to someone through a will.

    The devise of the farm made his daughter the new owner.

    The house went to her son by devise after she died.

    Similarbequest

    Note
  4. 4
    nouncountable
    A will, or a part of a will, that gives land or a house to someone.

    The devise in Grandpa's will gave the farm to my mother.

    A judge ruled that the devise was not valid because it was never signed.

    Similarbequest

    Note
  5. 5
    nouncountable
    The land or house that someone gets through a will.

    Her devise was a small house near the lake.

    The brothers agreed to share the devise their father left them.

    Similarinheritance, bequest, legacy

  6. 6
    noununcountable
    The planning of something, or the design that results from it.

    The kids played a card game of their own devise, with rules they made up as they went.

    She keeps to a strict morning routine of her own devise.

    Similardesign, invention

    Note

Less common meanings

  1. 7
    verbarchaicintransitive
    To spend time thinking carefully and making plans.

    The old king devised all night, but found no answer by morning.

    I thought, devised, and Pallas heard my prayer.
    1725, Homer, The Odyssey of HomerHere, devised means thought things over and made plans.
    Note
  2. 8
    verbarchaictransitive
    To make secret plans to get something, often in an unfair way.

    The jealous brothers devised the family farm for themselves.

    For wisedome is most riches; fooles therefore / They are, which fortunes doe by vowes deuize,
    1596, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie QueeneHere, deuize means to plan or scheme to get something.
    Note
  3. 9
    verbobsolete
    To guess something, or to picture it in your mind.
    I do protest I neuer iniur’d thee, But lou’d thee better then thou can’st deuise: Till thou shalt know the reason of my loue.
    c. 1591, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet”Here, deuise means to imagine or guess.
    Note

Practice

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Origins

Meanings 1–2, 7–9

It comes from Old French deviser, which goes back to the Latin verb dīvidō, meaning to divide.

Meanings 3–6

It comes from Middle French devise. It shares an origin with the word 'device'.