DEVISE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does devise mean? 

• DEVISE (noun)
  The noun DEVISE has 2 senses:

1. a will disposing of real property

2. (law) a gift of real property by will

  Familiarity information: DEVISE used as a noun is rare.

• DEVISE (verb)
  The verb DEVISE has 3 senses:

1. come up with (an idea, plan, explanation, theory, or principle) after a mental effort

2. arrange by systematic planning and united effort

3. give by will, especially real property

  Familiarity information: DEVISE used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DEVISE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A will disposing of real property

Classified under:

Nouns denoting possession and transfer of possession

Hypernyms ("devise" is a kind of...):

testament; will (a legal document declaring a person's wishes regarding the disposal of their property when they die)

Derivation:

devise (give by will, especially real property)

Sense 2

Meaning:

(law) a gift of real property by will

Classified under:

Nouns denoting possession and transfer of possession

Hypernyms ("devise" is a kind of...):

heritage; inheritance (that which is inherited; a title or property or estate that passes by law to the heir on the death of the owner)

gift (something acquired without compensation)

Domain category:

jurisprudence; law (the collection of rules imposed by authority)

• DEVISE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they devise    ... he / she / it devises   
Past simple: devised   
Past participle: devised   
-ing form: devising   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Come up with (an idea, plan, explanation, theory, or principle) after a mental effort

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Synonyms:

contrive; devise; excogitate; forge; formulate; invent

Context example:

excogitate a way to measure the speed of light

Hypernyms (to "devise" is one way to...):

create by mental act; create mentally (create mentally and abstractly rather than with one's hands)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sentence example:

Did he devise his major works over a short period of time?

Derivation:

devisal (the act of devising something)

deviser (a person who makes plans)

devising (the act that results in something coming to be)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Arrange by systematic planning and united effort

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Synonyms:

devise; get up; machinate; organise; organize; prepare

Context example:

devise a plan to take over the director's office

Hypernyms (to "devise" is one way to...):

initiate; pioneer (take the lead or initiative in; participate in the development of)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "devise"):

mount; put on (prepare and supply with the necessary equipment for execution or performance)

lay (prepare or position for action or operation)

set up (begin, or enable someone else to begin, a venture by providing the means, logistics, etc.)

sandwich (make into a sandwich)

spatchcock (prepare for eating if or as if a spatchcock)

embattle (prepare for battle or conflict)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

deviser (a person who makes plans)

devising (the act that results in something coming to be)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Give by will, especially real property

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Hypernyms (to "devise" is one way to...):

bequeath; leave; will (leave or give by will after one's death)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

devise (a will disposing of real property)

devisee (someone to whom property (especially realty) is devised by will)

 Context examples 

You can imagine, Watson, with what eagerness I listened to this extraordinary sequence of events, and endeavoured to piece them together, and to devise some common thread upon which they might all hang.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Doubtless, a creator of a Cosmos could have devised a better method; but creatures of this particular Cosmos must put up with this particular method.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would cover the facts as far as we know them.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The shark dropped back into the sea, helpless, yet with its full strength, doomed—to lingering starvation—a living death less meet for it than for the man who devised the punishment.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

I have but devised a means whereby I may kill the ice-bear with ease, that is all.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

She and her team devised a way to assess the metabolites themselves - directly.

(Humans exposed to far more hormone-disrupting chemicals than thought, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

To overcome that problem, Morlighem and his colleagues devised an advanced technique to create a more accurate map.

(Hidden Greenland canyons mean more sea level rise, NASA)

A 5 point scale devised to assess the response to treatment of Hodgkins and Aggressive Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.

(London Deauville Criteria Point Scale, NCI Thesaurus)

To devise, contrive, or form in design.

(Plan, NCI Thesaurus)

“There is no hurry now, I presume, Craven,” said my uncle, as coolly as if this sudden effect had been carefully devised by him.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)