devise

verb

1. (transitive)To use one’s intellect to plan or design (something).

   “Near-synonyms: lay, set, design, plan, create”

   “to devise an argument; to devise a machine, or a new system of writing”

   “Therefore to make complaynt Of such mysadvysed Parsons and dysgysed, Thys boke we have devysed, […]”

   “His fiery eies are fixt vpon the earth. As if he now deuiſ’d some Stratageme: Or meant to pierce Auernus darkſome vauts. To pull the triple headed dog from hell.”

   “devising schemes to realize his ambitious views”

2. (transitive)To leave (property) in a will.
3. (archaic, intransitive)To form a scheme; to lay a plan; to contrive; to consider.

   “I thought, devised, and Pallas heard my prayer.”

4. (archaic, transitive)To plan or scheme for; to plot to obtain.

   “For wisedome is most riches; fooles therefore / They are, which fortunes doe by vowes deuize,”

5. (obsolete)To imagine; to guess.

   “I do protest I neuer iniur’d thee, But lou’d thee better then thou can’st deuise: Till thou shalt know the reason of my loue.”

noun

1. The act of leaving real property in a will.
2. Such a will, or a clause in such a will.

   “Fines upon devises were still exacted.”

3. The real property left in such a will.
4. Design, devising.

   “I don't know how I got to be so sour on life, but I'm constantly in solitary confinement of my own devise, […]”