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.

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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

When the time finally came, they devised a brightly coloured world filled with seventies stylings.

From Barron's • Apr. 12, 2026

One of best-known of those models is named for the three Federal Reserve economists who devised it: Kathryn Holston, Thomas Laubach and John Williams.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 8, 2026

U.S. special operations forces have devised plans for seizing the nuclear weapons, facilities, and materials of many hostile or turbulent countries.

From Slate • Apr. 1, 2026

Over subsequent years, working mainly through the CSJ, the think tank he founded, Duncan Smith devised a system that he believed would not just simplify the benefits system but, crucially, make work pay.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

He seemed to take my question seriously, but I hoped he wasn’t going along with it while he devised a way to escape.

From "We Are the Ants" by Shaun David Hutchinson