English Dictionary

Definition of “devise”

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devise (dɪˈvaɪzPronunciation for devise) 

Definitions

verb

  1. to work out, contrive, or plan (something) in one's mind
  2. (tr) law to dispose of (property, esp real property) by will
  3. (tr) obsolete to imagine or guess

noun

law 
    1. a disposition of property by will
    2. the property so transmitted Compare bequeath (sense 1)
  2. a will or clause in a will disposing of real property Compare bequest (sense 2)

Alternative Forms

deˈviser noun

Word Origin

C15: from Old French deviser  to divide, apportion, intend, from Latin dīvidere to divide

Translations

  • British English: devise Pronunciation for devise If you devise something, you have the idea for it and design it.We devised a plan.dɪˈvaɪz VERB We devised a plan.
  • Spanish: idear Pronunciation for idear v
  • French: concevoir Pronunciation for concevoir vt
  • German: ersinnen Pronunciation for ersinnen v
  • Chinese: 策划Pronunciation for 策划 v
  • Arabic: يَبْتَكِرُPronunciation for يَبْتَكِرُ v
  • Portuguese: idealizarPronunciation for idealizar v
  • Russian: разрабатыватьPronunciation for разрабатывать v
  • Croatian: domislitiPronunciation for domisliti v
  • Czech: vymysletPronunciation for vymyslet v vymýšlet
  • Danish: udtænkePronunciation for udtænke v
  • Dutch: verzinnenPronunciation for verzinnen v
  • Finnish: laatiaPronunciation for laatia v
  • Greek: επινοώPronunciation for επινοώ v
  • Italian: escogitarePronunciation for escogitare v
  • Japanese: 考案するPronunciation for 考案する v
  • Korean: 궁리하다Pronunciation for 궁리하다 v
  • Norwegian: finne påPronunciation for finne på v
  • Polish: wymyślićPronunciation for wymyślić v wymyślać
  • Brazilian Portuguese: idealizarPronunciation for idealizar v
  • European Spanish: idear Pronunciation for idear v
  • Swedish: tänka utPronunciation for tänka ut v
  • Thai: คิดขึ้นใหม่Pronunciation for คิดขึ้นใหม่ v
  • Turkish: tasarlamakPronunciation for tasarlamak v
  • Vietnamese: nghĩ raPronunciation for nghĩ ra v

Usage examples

  • They worked on the ration books, trying to devise ways of stretching the `points" as far as possible.
    Gaskin, Catherine, The Ambassador's Women (1986)
  • A Viral protein that punches holes in bacteria could help scientists to devise new antibiotics.
    New Scientist (1999)
  • At work, meanwhile, Valerie and her boss devise a brilliant scheme: organized sex tours to poor countries.
    Globe and Mail (2003)
  • The squad underwent fitness tests to help devise individual training programmes.
    Sun, News of the World (2004)
  • This gave both sides enough time to devise a winning strategy.
    Hiro, Dilip, Between Marx and Muhammed (1994)

Commonness

All English words that begin with 'D'

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