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View synonyms for devise

devise

[ dih-vahyz ]

verb (used with object)

, de·vised, de·vis·ing.
  1. to contrive, plan, or elaborate; invent from existing principles or ideas:

    to devise a method.

  2. Theater. to develop (a play) collaboratively with the performers:

    Based on the lives of women in engineering, the students devised the play themselves.

  3. Law. to assign or transmit (property) by will.
  4. Archaic. to imagine; suppose.


verb (used without object)

, de·vised, de·vis·ing.
  1. to form a plan; contrive.

noun

  1. Law.
    1. the act of disposing of property, especially real property, by will.
    2. a will or clause in a will disposing of property, especially real property.
    3. the property so disposed of.

devise

/ dɪˈvaɪz /

verb

  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
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


noun

    1. a disposition of property by will
    2. the property so transmitted Compare bequeath
  1. a will or clause in a will disposing of real property Compare bequest
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • deˈviser, noun
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Other Words From

  • de·vis·er noun
  • pre·de·vise verb (used with object) predevised predevising
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Word History and Origins

Origin of devise1

First recorded in 1150–1200; (verb) Middle English devisen “to inspect, design, compose,” from Old French deviser, from unattested Vulgar Latin dēvīsāre, for unattested dīvīsāre, frequentative of Latin dīvidere “to divide” ( divide ); (noun) device
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Word History and Origins

Origin of devise1

C15: from Old French deviser to divide, apportion, intend, from Latin dīvidere to divide
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Synonym Study

See prepare.
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Example Sentences

As a society, we devise laws that are meant to make society a just place for all—but we fail so often.

U.S. military officials say Nagata helped devise much of U.S. special operations support for Jordan.

In 2007, curriculum experts began to devise the new Common Core standards with input from the states.

She has so many sexual partners—about eight different men a day—that she has to devise a scheduling system to keep them in check.

After seeing injuries to infant girl, suspects devise alibi.

To meet this heavy expense the ministers had to devise all sorts of expedients to raise money.

A more potent and public method of ridicule would be difficult to devise.

Thus the facts help us devise the number phrase, and the phrase helps revive the facts.

But the prince will devise such things as are worthy of a prince, and he shall stand above the rulers.

No lawgiver had ever been able to devise a perfect and immortal form of government.

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