The definition of devise is to plan or create by thinking through.
An example of devise is figuring out how to recreate a restaurant's secret recipe.
devise
, -·vised′, -·vis′ing
- to work out or create (something) by thinking; contrive; plan; invent
- Law to bequeath (real property) by a will
- Archaic to make secret plans for; plot
- Obs. to guess or imagine
Origin of devise
Middle English devisen ; from Old French deviser, to distribute, direct, regulate, talk ; from Vulgar Latin an unverified form divisare ; from Classical Latin divisus, past participle of dividere: see divide- a gift of real property by a will
- a will, or clause in a will, granting such a gift
- the property so granted
devise
transitive verb
de·vised, de·vis·ing, de·vis·es- To form, plan, or arrange in the mind; design or contrive: devised a new system for handling mail orders.
- Law To transmit or give (real property) by will.
- Archaic To suppose; imagine.
noun
Law- a. The act of transmitting or giving real property by will.b. The property or lands so transmitted or given.
- A will or clause in a will transmitting or giving real property.
Origin of devise
Middle English devisen, from Old French deviser, from Vulgar Latin *d&emacron;v&imacron;sare, from Latin *d&imacron;v&imacron;sare, frequentative of d&imacron;videre, to divide; see divide.Related Forms:
- de·vis′a·ble
adjective
- de·vis′er
noun
devise
Verb
(third-person singular simple present devises, present participle devising, simple past and past participle devised)
Noun
(plural devises)
- The act of leaving real property in a will.
- Such a will, or a clause in such a will.
- The real property left in such a will.
devise - Legal Definition
n
The act of transferring real
property by will; a clause of a will describing such a transfer; the property
disposed of in such a transfer.
