Devise is a verb meaning to plan or invent a complex procedure or system. It often implies careful design or invention, typically for a particular purpose, and is used in contexts such as formulating a plan, creating a device, or outlining a strategy. The term carries a tone of deliberate, thoughtful construction rather than spontaneous creation.
US: Rhotic emphasis in surrounding phrases may influence intonation but not the core /dɪˈvaɪz/. UK: Slightly sharper vowel quality /ɪ/ and crisper onset; AU: Similar to US, with a tendency toward less vowel reduction in connected speech. IPA references: US /dɪˈvaɪz/, UK /dɪˈvaɪz/, AU /dɪˈvaɪz/.
"The team will devise a new protocol to improve data security."
"She devised a clever marketing strategy to attract more customers."
"Researchers devised an experiment to test the hypothesis under controlled conditions."
"They devised a system that automatically routes requests to the appropriate department."
Devise comes from the Old French deviser, meaning to divide, lay out, or plan, from the Latin dividere ‘to divide’. In Middle English, devise broadened to mean to contrive or plan by deliberate thought. The form is related to devices and planning processes; historically, it conveyed the act of contriving or arranging a plan or instrument. The shift from physical division to strategic construction reflects a broader sense of ‘to design’ or ‘to create by careful planning.’ The earliest English records of devise appear in medieval legal and technical contexts, where it described the process of forming plans, agreements, or devices for achieving a particular goal. Over time, devise retained a formal or somewhat technical nuance, especially in professional or scholarly writing, but remains common in everyday speech when referring to formulating strategies, plans, or mechanisms. First known use in English literature appears in the 14th century, with subsequent evolution through the adoption of related terms like device and design, reinforcing a semantic field around purposeful creation and structured planning.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Devise" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Devise" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Devise"
-ise sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronounce it as dɪˈvaɪz with two syllables. The primary stress lands on the second syllable: di-VIZE. Start with a short /d/ plus a short /ɪ/, then glide into the diphthong /aɪ/ and finish with the voiced /z/.
Common slips include stressing the first syllable (Dĭ-vize) or turning the /z/ into /s/ (di-vize). Some learners over-enunciate as de-VIZE with equal emphasis. Correct by keeping the /ɪ/ short, ensuring the /aɪ/ is a smooth glide, and finishing with a clear, voiced /z/.
In US, UK, and AU, the core /dɪˈvaɪz/ pattern remains, but vowel qualities shift slightly: US may have a slightly tenser /ɪ/ and a brighter /aɪ/, UK often preserves a crisper /ɪ/ and a more clipped onset, and AU tends to be very close to US with a mild non-rhotic feel on surrounding words. The /z/ remains voiced in all.
The challenge lies in the diphthong /aɪ/ and transitioning into a voiced /z/ after a stressed syllable. The mouth moves from a light /d/ to a bright /ɪ/ grip, then a strong glide into /aɪ/, ending with a crisp /z/. For non-native speakers, modeling the final voiced fricative and avoiding a whispered /z/ is crucial.
A distinctive feature is the clear separation between the syllables with primary stress on the second syllable; the /ɪ/ is short and the /aɪ/ is a strong glide, not a long vowel, and the final /z/ must be voiced rather than approximated as /s/.
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- Shadowing: listen to a native speaker saying 'devise' in sentences and repeat with the same pace. - Minimal pairs: devise vs. desive (not a real word) vs. devise vs. de-vi-se (emphasize second syllable). Use pairs focusing on /ɪ/ vs /iː/ and /aɪ/ glide differences.
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