devise
Pronunciation
  • IPA: /dɪˈvaɪz/
Verb

devise (devises, present participle devising; past and past participle devised)

  1. (transitive) To use one's intellect to plan or design (something).
    to devise an argument; to devise a machine, or a new system of writing
    • devising schemes to realize his ambitious views
  2. (transitive) To leave (property) in a will.
  3. (intransitive, archaic) To form a scheme; to lay a plan; to contrive; to consider.
    • RQ
  4. (transitive, archaic) To plan or scheme for; to plot to obtain.
    • For wisdom is most riches; fools therefore / They are which fortunes do by vows devise.
  5. (obsolete) To imagine; to guess.
Translations Translations Translations
  • German: letztwillig vermachen, durch Testament verfügen
  • Portuguese: legar, deixar
  • Russian: завеща́ть
  • Spanish: legar
Noun

devise (plural devises)

  1. The act of leaving real property in a will.
  2. Such a will, or a clause in such a will.
    • Fines upon devises were still exacted.
  3. The real property left in such a will.
  4. Design, devising.
    • 2010, Carl Anderson, Fragments of a Scattered Brain ISBN 1453547460, page 83
      I don't know how I got to be so sour on life, but I'm constantly in solitary confinement of my own devise, […]



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