devised

[dih-vahyzd]

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of devised¹

devise ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

He devised a game involving two plastic robots, controlled by levers.

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During a Test against South Africa, Smith admitted Australia's "leadership group" devised a plan to tamper with the ball.

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When Newcastle needed a result most, following a bruising defeat at Brentford before the international break, Howe and his staff devised a plan to finally get the better of Manchester City in the Premier League.

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It was a cruel irony that these works, devised to be widely disseminated, barely sold: Most Spaniards preferred, Mr. Matilla writes, “devotional prints or those on popular themes” over fine art.

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First they devised a way for Simon to reveal the ingredients for the visibilizer without breaking his pirate oath of secrecy.

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