---
title: devise — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «devise» in the school dictionary: To invent or plan something clever or new, usually after careful thinking: «devise a plan». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# devise

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, children, prisoner, class, Scientists, puzzle · **What happens:** invent, plan, devise, leave, see, be · **To what, where:** something, plan, property, someone, fair test, kitten · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«devise» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 8 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [devise in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/devise.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To invent or plan something clever or new, usually after careful thinking: «devise a plan».

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:devise:m1:1
# text = To invent or plan something clever or new, usually after careful thinking: «devise a plan».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	invent	invent	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	plan	plan	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	obj	_	_
6	clever	clever	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
10	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
11	after	after	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	careful	careful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	thinking	thinking	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	16	punct	_	_
15	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	devise	devise	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	13	parataxis	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	plan	plan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **invent** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  | after careful thinking |  | vn create-26.4-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **plan** | infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Topic |
| 3 | **devise** *in a quote* | infinitive |  | a plan |  |  |  |  | vn establish-55.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent plan=Patient |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: law, old — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To leave property to someone in a will.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:devise:m2:1
# text = To leave property to someone in a will.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	leave	leave	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	property	property	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obl	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **leave** | to-infinitive |  | property | someone |  |  |  | vn fulfilling-13.4.1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent property=Theme to someone=Recipient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Devise a fair test to see which paper towel is strongest.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:devise:x1:1
# text = Devise a fair test to see which paper towel is strongest.
1	Devise	devise	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	fair	fair	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	test	test	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	see	see	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
7	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
8	paper	paper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	towel	towel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
10	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
11	strongest	strong	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	6	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **devise** | imperative | you *not said here* | a fair test |  |  |  |  | vn establish-55.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent test=Patient |
| 2 | **see** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | strong *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The children devised a plan to rescue the kitten.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:devise:x2:1
# text = The children devised a plan to rescue the kitten.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	devised	devise	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	plan	plan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	rescue	rescue	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	kitten	kitten	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **devise** | participle | the children | a plan |  |  |  |  | vn establish-55.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent plan=Patient |
| 2 | **rescue** | to-infinitive | the children *not said here* | the kitten |  |  |  |  | vn steal-10.5 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent kitten=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Can you devise a quicker way to add these numbers?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:devise:x3:1
# text = Can you devise a quicker way to add these numbers?
1	Can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	devise	devise	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	quicker	quick	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	6	amod	_	_
6	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	add	add	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	acl	_	_
9	these	this	DET	DT	Number=Plur|PronType=Dem	10	det	_	_
10	numbers	number	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **devise** | can | you | a quicker way |  |  |  |  | vn establish-55.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent way=Patient |
| 2 | **add** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | this numbers |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent number=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The prisoner devised a clever escape.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:devise:x4:1
# text = The prisoner devised a clever escape.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	prisoner	prisoner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	devised	devise	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	clever	clever	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	escape	escape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **devise** | past | the prisoner | a clever escape |  |  |  |  | vn establish-55.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent escape=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our class devised a new game for wet playtime.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:devise:x5:1
# text = Our class devised a new game for wet playtime.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	devised	devise	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	wet	wet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	playtime	playtime	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **devise** | past | Our class | a new game |  |  |  | for wet playtime | vn establish-55.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent game=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scientists devised a machine to clean the ocean.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:devise:x6:1
# text = Scientists devised a machine to clean the ocean.
1	Scientists	scientist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	devised	devise	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	machine	machine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	clean	clean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	ocean	ocean	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **devise** | past | Scientists | a machine |  |  |  |  | vn establish-55.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent machine=Patient |
| 2 | **clean** | to-infinitive | Scientists *not said here* | the ocean |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent ocean=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The puzzle was of her own devising.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:devise:x7:1
# text = The puzzle was of her own devising.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	puzzle	puzzle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	own	own	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
7	devising	devise	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the puzzle |  |  |  |  | own *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **devise** | gerund | the puzzle *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn establish-55.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
At last he devised a plan.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:devise:x8:1
# text = At last he devised a plan.
1	At	at	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	last	last	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
3	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	devised	devise	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	plan	plan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **devise** | past | he | a plan |  | last |  |  | vn establish-55.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent plan=Patient |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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