In the 18th century, the Swedish government made coffee and its paraphernalia (including cups and dishes) illegal for its supposed ties to rebellious sentiment.
DEVISE
devise
(noun) (law) a gift of real property by will
devise
(noun) a will disposing of real property
invent, contrive, devise, excogitate, formulate, forge
(verb) come up with (an idea, plan, explanation, theory, or principle) after a mental effort; “excogitate a way to measure the speed of light”
organize, organise, prepare, devise, get up, machinate
(verb) arrange by systematic planning and united effort; “machinate a plot”; “organize a strike”; “devise a plan to take over the director’s office”
devise
(verb) give by will, especially real property
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Verb
devise (third-person singular simple present devises, present participle devising, simple past and past participle devised)
(transitive) To use one's intellect to plan or design (something).
(transitive) To leave (property) in a will.
(intransitive, archaic) To form a scheme; to lay a plan; to contrive; to consider.
(transitive, archaic) To plan or scheme for; to plot to obtain.
(obsolete) To imagine; to guess.
Noun
devise (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.
Design, devising.
Anagrams
• sieved, visĂ©ed
Source: Wiktionary
De*vise", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Devised; p. pr. & vb. n. Devising.] Etym: [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)
Definition: To give by will; -- used of real estate; formerly, also, of chattels.
Syn.
– To bequeath; invent; discover; contrive; excogitate; imagine; plan; scheme. See Bequeath.
De*vise", v. i.
Definition: 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.
De*vise", n. Etym: [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.
De*vise", n.
Definition: Device. See Device. [Obs.]
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
Recent Word Finds
Word of the Day
17 June 2025
RECREANT
(adjective) having deserted a cause or principle; “some provinces had proved recreant”; “renegade supporters of the usurper”
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