de·vice
(d
-v
s
)
KEY
NOUN:
- A contrivance or an invention serving a particular purpose, especially a machine used to perform one or more relatively simple tasks.
-
- A technique or means.
- A plan or scheme, especially a malign one.
- A literary contrivance, such as parallelism or personification, used to achieve a particular effect.
- A decorative design, figure, or pattern, as one used in embroidery. See Synonyms at figure.
- A graphic symbol or motto, especially in heraldry.
-
Archaic
The act, state, or power of devising.
IDIOM:
leave to (one's) own devices
- To allow to do as one pleases:
left the child to her own devices for an hour in the afternoon.
ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English, from Old French
devis,
division, wish, and Old French
devise,
design, both from Latin
dvsus, dvsa, past participle of
dvidere,
to divide, separate ; see
divide
