devise

[ dih-vahyz ]

/ dɪˈvaɪz /

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See synonyms for: devise / devised / devising on Thesaurus.com

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

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

Theater. to develop (a play) collaboratively with the performers: Based on the lives of women in engineering, the students devised the play themselves.

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

Archaic. to imagine; suppose.

verb (used without object), de·vised, de·vis·ing.

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.

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Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of devise

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” (see divide); (noun) see device

synonym study for devise

1. See prepare.

OTHER WORDS FROM devise

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

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH devise

device, devise

Words nearby devise

devine, De Vinne, devious, devisable, devisal, devise, devised, devisee, devising, devisor, devitalize

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use devise in a sentence

As a society, we devise laws that are meant to make society a just place for all—but we fail so often.
‘Gods of Suburbia’: Dina Goldstein’s Arresting Photo Series on Religion vs. Consumerism|Dina Goldstein|November 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
U.S. military officials say Nagata helped devise much of U.S. special operations support for Jordan.
Obama Taps Star General to Build Syrian Rebel Army to Fight ISIS|Josh Rogin, Eli Lake|September 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In 2007, curriculum experts began to devise the new Common Core standards with input from the states.
The Incredibly Stupid War on the Common Core|Charles Upton Sahm|April 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
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.
‘Nymphomaniac,’ Lars von Trier’s Icy Orgy of Sex and Self-Loathing, Bows At Sundance|Marlow Stern|January 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST

After seeing injuries to infant girl, suspects devise alibi.
Israel to Simulate Chemical Attack By Suicide Bomber|Orly Halpern|December 5, 2013|DAILY BEAST
To meet this heavy expense the ministers had to devise all sorts of expedients to raise money.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison
A more potent and public method of ridicule would be difficult to devise.
A Letter from Mr. Cibber to Mr. Pope|Colley Cibber
Thus the facts help us devise the number phrase, and the phrase helps revive the facts.
Assimilative Memory|Marcus Dwight Larrowe (AKA Prof. A. Loisette)
But the prince will devise such things as are worthy of a prince, and he shall stand above the rulers.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
No lawgiver had ever been able to devise a perfect and immortal form of government.
The History of England from the Accession of James II.|Thomas Babington Macaulay

British Dictionary definitions for devise

devise

/ (dɪˈvaɪz) /

verb

to work out, contrive, or plan (something) in one's mind

(tr) law to dispose of (property, esp real property) by will

(tr) obsolete to imagine or guess

noun law

a disposition of property by will
the property so transmittedCompare bequeath (def. 1)

a will or clause in a will disposing of real propertyCompare bequest (def. 2)

Derived forms of devise

deviser, noun

Word Origin for devise

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

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

devise

Origin of devise

synonym study for devise

OTHER WORDS FROM devise

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH devise

Words nearby devise

Words related to devise

How to use devise in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for devise

Derived forms of devise

Word Origin for devise