Nearby Words
verb (used with object)
1.
to contrive, plan, or elaborate; invent from existing principles or ideas: to devise a method.
2.
Law. to assign or transmit (property) by will.
3.
Archaic. to imagine; suppose.
verb (used without object)
4.
to form a plan; contrive.
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Devise
is always a great word to know.
So is infamous. Does it mean:
| deprived of certain rights as a citizen, as a consequence of conviction of certain offenses |
| of or pertaining to crime or its punishment |
noun
5.
Law.
a.
the act of disposing of property, especially real property, by will.
b.
a will or clause in a will disposing of property, especially real property.
c.
the property so disposed of.
Origin:
1150–1200; (v.) Middle English devisen to inspect, design, compose < Old French deviser < Vulgar Latin *dēvīsāre, for *dīvīsāre, frequentative of Latin dīvidere to divide; (noun) see device
1150–1200; (v.) Middle English devisen to inspect, design, compose < Old French deviser < Vulgar Latin *dēvīsāre, for *dīvīsāre, frequentative of Latin dīvidere to divide; (noun) see device
Related forms
de·vis·er, noun
pre·de·vise, verb (used with object), -vised, -vis·ing.
self-de·vised, adjective
un·de·vised, adjective
well-de·vised, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source
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Link To devise
Example Sentences
- Devise any security system, and you'll also be able to devise a way around it.
- This now translates to additional days to devise new rigging for safe deployment.
- The Regents appointed me in 1994 to address then present problems and to devise and implement new initiatives.
Collins
World English Dictionary
| devise (dɪˈvaɪz) | |
| —vb | |
| 1. | to work out, contrive, or plan (something) in one's mind |
| 2. | (tr) law to dispose of (property, esp real property) by will |
| 3. | obsolete (tr) to imagine or guess |
| —n | |
| 4. | a. a disposition of property by will |
| b. Compare bequeath the property so transmitted | |
| 5. | Compare bequest a will or clause in a will disposing of real property |
| [C15: from Old French deviser to divide, apportion, intend, from Latin dīvidere to | |
| de'viser | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
devise
c.1300, from O.Fr. deviser "dispose in portions, arrange, plan, contrive," from V.L. *divisare, freq. of L. dividere "to divide" (see divide). Modern sense is from "to arrange a division" (especially via a will), a meaning present in the O.Fr. word.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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