v. & n.
v.tr. 1 plan or invent by careful thought. 2 Law leave (real estate) by the terms of a will (cf. BEQUEATH).
n. 1 the act or an instance of devising. 2 Law a devising clause in a will. devisable adj. devisee n. (in sense 2 of v.). deviser n. devisor n. (in sense 2 of v.).
[ ME f. OF deviser ult. f. L dividere divis- DIVIDE: (n.) f. OF devise f. med.L divisa fem. past part. of dividere ]