devise
/dɪˈvaɪz/ verb, noun
Forms devises devising devised
- verb (transitive) To use one’s intellect to plan or design (something). “to devise an argument; to devise a machine, or a new system of writing”
- verb (transitive) To leave (property) in a will.
- verb (intransitive, archaic) To form a scheme; to lay a plan; to contrive; to consider.
- verb (transitive, archaic) To plan or scheme for; to plot to obtain.
- verb (obsolete) To imagine; to guess.
- noun The act of leaving real property in a will.
- noun Such a will, or a clause in such a will.
- noun The real property left in such a will.
- noun Design, devising.
Synonyms
lay set design plan create invent contrive excogitate formulate forge organize organise prepare get up machinate
Etymology
From Middle English devisen, devysen, from Old French deviser, from Vulgar Latin devisō, from Latin dīvisō, frequentative of dīvidō.
From Middle French devise. Doublet of device.
Webster’s 1913
- verb To form in the mind by new combinations of ideas, new applications of principles, or new arrangement of parts; to formulate by thought; to contrive; to excogitate; to invent; to plan; to scheme; as, to devise an engine, a new mode of writing, a plan of defense, or an argument.
- verb To plan or scheme for; to purpose to obtain.
- verb To form a scheme; to lay a plan; to contrive; to consider.
- noun The act of giving or disposing of real estate by will; --sometimes improperly applied to a bequest of personal estate.
Etymology [OF. deviser to distribute, regulate, direct, relate, F., to chat, fr. L. divisus divided, distributed, p. p. of dividere. See Divide, and cf. Device.]
Etymology [OF. devise division, deliberation, wish, will, testament. See Device.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “devise”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details