de|vise

de|vise «dih VYZ», verb, -vised, -vis|ing, noun.

–v.t.

1. to think out; plan or contrive; intent: »

The boys are trying to devise a scheme for earning money during the summer vacation. He devised a way of raising boards up to the roof by using a pulley.

SYNONYM(S): concoct, concert, excogitate.

2. to give or leave (land, buildings, or other property) by a will.

3. Obsolete. to divide; separate; distribute.

4. Obsolete. to conceive; imagine; guess.

–v.i.

1. to contrive; plan: »

The captain was always devising how to get the mate into trouble.

2. Obsolete. to imagine; guess: »

I…love thee better than thou canst devise (Shakespeare).

–n. Law.

1. a giving or leaving land, buildings, or other property, by a will.

2. a will or part of a will doing this.

3. property, especially real property, given or left in this way.

╂[< Old French deviser dispose in portions, arrange, ultimately < Latin dīvidere divide]

Usage See device for usage note. (Cf. ↑device)