devise

[ dih-vahyz ]
/ dɪˈvaɪz /
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verb (used with object), de·vised, de·vis·ing.

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

Origin of devise

1150–1200; (v.) Middle English devisen to inspect, design, compose < Old French deviser < Vulgar Latin *dēvīsāre, for *dīvīsāre, frequentative of Latin dīvidere to divide; (noun) see device

OTHER WORDS FROM devise

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH devise

device devise

Words nearby devise

devine, deviometer, devious, devisable, devisal, devise, devisee, devisor, devitalize, devitalized, devitalized pulp

Words related to devising

concoct, prepare, formulate, create, discover, invent, craft, design, construct, hatch, forge, mastermind, arrange, blueprint, plot, ad-lib, form, improvise, frame, machinate

Example sentences from the Web for devising

British Dictionary definitions for devising

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

  1. a disposition of property by will
  2. the property so transmittedCompare bequeath (def. 1)
a will or clause in a will disposing of real property Compare 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