devise

Use Devise in a sentence

verb (used with object)

to contrive, plan, or elaborate; invent from existing principles or ideas: to devise a method.

Law. to assign or transmit (property) by will.

Archaic. to imagine; suppose.

verb (used without object)

to form a plan; contrive.

noun

Law.

the act of disposing of property, especially real property, by will.

a will or clause in a will disposing of property, especially real property.

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

Related forms

de·vis·er, noun

pre·de·vise, verb (used with object), pre·de·vised, pre·de·vis·ing.

self-de·vised, adjective

un·de·vised, adjective

well-de·vised, adjective

Can be confused: device, devise.

Synonyms
1. See prepare.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To devise

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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 divide]

de'viser

—n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
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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.

Example sentences

The point was that months were henceforward spent by me trying to devise ways

to catch the drum rotating.

Probably the most useful mnemonics are those that people devise for themselves.

But critics say governments should devise the regulations.

Devise any security system, and you'll also be able to devise a way around it.

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Related Words

prepare devisor plot scheme think brew

calibrate cast construct contrive counterplot devisable

Matching Quote

"The doctrine of those who have denied that certainty could be attained at all, has some agreement with my way of proceeding at the first setting out; but they end in being infinitely separated and opposed. For the holders of that doctrine assert simply that nothing can be known; I also assert that not much can be known in nature by the way which is now in use. But then they go on to destroy the authority of the senses and understanding; whereas I proceed to devise helps for the same."

-Francis Bacon