Hypertext Webster Gateway: "devise"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Devise \De*vise"\, v. i.
To form a scheme; to lay a plan; to contrive; to consider.
I thought, devised, and Pallas heard my prayer. --Pope.
Note: Devise was formerly followed by of; as, let us devise
of ease. --Spenser.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Devise \De*vise"\, n. [OF. devise division, deliberation, wish,
will, testament. See {Device}.]
1. The act of giving or disposing of real estate by will; --
sometimes improperly applied to a bequest of personal
estate.
2. A will or testament, conveying real estate; the clause of
a will making a gift of real property.
Fines upon devises were still exacted. --Bancroft.
3. Property devised, or given by will.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Devise \De*vise"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Devised}; p. pr. & vb.
n. {Devising}.] [OF. deviser to distribute, regulate, direct,
relate, F., to chat, fr. L. divisus divided, distributed, p.
p. of dividere. See {Divide}, and cf. {Device}.]
1. To form in the mind by new combinations of ideas, new
applications of principles, or new arrangement of parts;
to formulate by thought; to contrive; to excogitate; to
invent; to plan; to scheme; as, to devise an engine, a new
mode of writing, a plan of defense, or an argument.
To devise curious works. --Ex. CCTV.
32.
Devising schemes to realize his ambitious views.
--Bancroft.
2. To plan or scheme for; to purpose to obtain.
For wisdom is most riches; fools therefore They are
which fortunes do by vows devise. --Spenser.
3. To say; to relate; to describe. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
4. To imagine; to guess. [Obs.] --Spenser.
5. (Law) To give by will; -- used of real estate; formerly,
also, of chattels.
Syn: To bequeath; invent; discover; contrive; excogitate;
imagine; plan; scheme. See {Bequeath}.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Devise \De*vise"\, n.
Device. See {Device}. [Obs.]
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
devise
n 1: a will disposing of real property
2: (law) a gift of real estate by will
v 1: come up with (an idea, plan, explanation, theory, or
priciple) after a mental effort; "excogitate a way to
measure the speed of light" [syn: {invent}, {contrive},
{excogitate}, {formulate}, {forge}]
2: arrange by systematic planning and united effort; "machinate
a plot"; "organize a strike"; "devise a plan to take over
the director's office" [syn: {organize}, {organise}, {prepare},
{get up}, {machinate}]
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