devised

American  

[dih-vahyzd] / dɪˈvaɪzd /

adjective

1. contrived, planned, invented, or designed.

   It’s a dark comedy about a couple of guys who embark on a poorly devised scheme to blackmail a local clergyman.

2. Theater. (of a play) having a script produced collaboratively by the performers rather than by a writer or playwright.

   Previous works of the Holwell Youth Troupe include a chilling ghost story and a devised piece on the topic of love.

3. Law. (of property) assigned or transmitted by will.

   When specifically devised property is no longer in the testator's estate, the beneficiary's gift fails.

---

verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of devise.

Other Word Forms

• self-devised adjective
• undevised adjective
• well-devised adjective

Etymology

Origin of devised

devise ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

It was the right strategic move, helping the Soviets pin down Nazi divisions in the east while the Brits and Americans devised a plan of attack in the west.

From The Wall Street Journal

But lured by a fake advert for a charity job in Africa devised by reporters seeking to confront him, he was filmed in Brussels in 2010 refusing to answer questions about his past.

From BBC

Little wonder psychotherapist Philippa Perry once joked that the whole bucket-list thing must have been devised “as a brilliant PR stunt by somebody who was selling swimming with dolphins.”

From MarketWatch

Almost anything might happen, but Might Futurists have devised clever ways to help us control all that unknowability.

From The Wall Street Journal

She brought the product over during one of their last visits — a Band-Aid solution that she devised because her client was having trouble bathing herself.

From Los Angeles Times