Search Result for "devise": 
Wordnet 3.0

NOUN (2)

1. a will disposing of real property;

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


VERB (3)

1. come up with (an idea, plan, explanation, theory, or principle) after a mental effort;
- Example: "excogitate a way to measure the speed of light"
[syn: invent, contrive, devise, excogitate, formulate, forge]

2. arrange by systematic planning and united effort;
- Example: "machinate a plot"
- Example: "organize a strike"
- Example: "devise a plan to take over the director's office"
[syn: organize, organise, prepare, devise, get up, machinate]

3. give by will, especially real property;


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

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. [1913 Webster] 2. A will or testament, conveying real estate; the clause of a will making a gift of real property. [1913 Webster] Fines upon devises were still exacted. --Bancroft. [1913 Webster] 3. Property devised, or given by will. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

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. [1913 Webster] To devise curious works. --Ex. CCTV. 32. [1913 Webster] Devising schemes to realize his ambitious views. --Bancroft. [1913 Webster] 2. To plan or scheme for; to purpose to obtain. [1913 Webster] For wisdom is most riches; fools therefore They are which fortunes do by vows devise. --Spenser. [1913 Webster] 3. To say; to relate; to describe. [Obs.] --Chaucer. [1913 Webster] 4. To imagine; to guess. [Obs.] --Spenser. [1913 Webster] 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. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Devise \De*vise"\, n. Device. See Device. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Devise \De*vise"\, v. i. To form a scheme; to lay a plan; to contrive; to consider. [1913 Webster] I thought, devised, and Pallas heard my prayer. --Pope. [1913 Webster] Note: Devise was formerly followed by of; as, let us devise of ease. --Spenser. [1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

devise n 1: a will disposing of real property 2: (law) a gift of real property by will v 1: come up with (an idea, plan, explanation, theory, or principle) after a mental effort; "excogitate a way to measure the speed of light" [syn: invent, contrive, devise, 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, devise, get up, machinate] 3: give by will, especially real property
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:

134 Moby Thesaurus words for "devise": add a codicil, arrange, assemble, assign, attested copy, beget, bequeath, bequeathal, bequest, bestow, blueprint, breed, bring forth, bring into being, build, calculate, call into being, cast, chart, codicil, cogitate, coin, collogue, collude, compose, compound, conceive, concert, concoct, connive, conspire, construct, contrive, convey, cook up, create, cut out, design, develop, discover, dispose of, dope out, draft, dream up, elaborate, engender, entail, erect, evolve, execute a will, extrude, fabricate, fashion, figure, forecast, forge, form, formulate, frame, fudge together, generate, get up, give, give being to, give rise to, hand down, hand on, hatch, hatch up, improvise, indite, inheritance, intend, intrigue, invent, lay plans, leave, legacy, legate, machinate, make, make a bequest, make a projection, make a will, make arrangements, make do with, make up, manufacture, mature, methodize, mint, mold, organize, originate, pass on, patch together, piece together, plan, plan ahead, prearrange, prefabricate, prepare, probate, procreate, produce, program, project, put together, put up, raise, rationalize, rear, run up, schedule, schematize, scheme, set up, shape, spawn, strike out, systematize, testament, think out, think up, transfer, transmit, vamp up, whomp up, will, will and bequeath, will to, work out, work up, write
Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856):

DEVISEE. A person to whom a devise has been made. 2. All persons who are in rerum natura, and even embryos, may be devisees, unless excepted by some positive law. In general, he who can acquire property by his labor and industry, may receive a devise. C. & N. 353.