8 uses
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Definition
to come up with a way of doing something — typically a creative idea or plan
- But Mr. Perkins devised an elaborate scheme by which he might obtain sufficient space to make the school double its present size.15-16 — Chapters 15-16 (56% in)
- Neither did Kant when he devised the Cat egorical Imperative.45-46 — Chapters 45-46 (25% in)
- The thing then was to discover what one was and one's system of philosophy would devise itself.53-54 — Chapters 53-54 (30% in)
- He knew that the best thing he could do was to cease coming to the tea-shop, but he could not bear to think that he had been worsted in the affair, and he devised a plan to show her that he despised her.55-56 — Chapters 55-56 (90% in)
- One thing that struck him was how little under those circumstances it mattered what one thought; the system of personal philosophy, which had given him great satisfaction to devise, had not served him.59-60 — Chapters 59-60 (31% in)
- One youth whom Philip knew had devised an ingenious plan to make money; he had bought things at sales and pawned them, but presently found it more profitable to pawn goods bought on credit; and it had caused a little excitement at the hospital when someone pointed out his name in police-court proceedings.79-80 — Chapters 79-80 (63% in)
- Philip went on asking the regulation questions, some a mere matter of routine, others artfully devised to lead the patient to discover things which he might be expected to desire to conceal.85-86 — Chapters 85-86 (76% in)
- It was not surprising that he felt a deep sympathy with the Greek who had devised a new technique to express the yearnings of his soul.87-88 — Chapters 87-88 (76% in)
There are no more uses of "devise" in Of Human Bondage.
Typical Usage
(best examples)