Word Meanings - DEVICE - Book Publishers vocabulary database

invention, fr. F. devis architect's plan and estimates (in OF., division, plan, wish), devise device , in OF. also, division, wish, last will, fr. deviser. See Devise, v. t., and cf. 1. That which is devised, or formed by design; a contrivance;

Additional info about word: DEVICE

invention, fr. F. devis architect's plan and estimates (in OF., division, plan, wish), devise device , in OF. also, division, wish, last will, fr. deviser. See Devise, v. t., and cf. 1. That which is devised, or formed by design; a contrivance; an invention; a project; a scheme; often, a scheme to deceive; a stratagem; an artifice. His device in against Babylon, to destroy it. Jer. li. 11. Their recent device of demanding benevolences. Hallam. He disappointeth the devices of the crafty. Job v. 12. 2. Power of devising; invention; contrivance. I must have instruments of my own device. Landor. An emblematic design, generally consisting of one or more figures with a motto, used apart from heraldic bearings to denote the historical situation, the ambition, or the desire of the person adopting it. See Cognizance. Improperly, an heraldic bearing. Knights-errant used to distinguish themselves by devices on their shields. Addison. A banner with this strange device -Excelsior. Longfellow. 4. Anything fancifully conceived. Shak. 5. A spectacle or show. Beau. & Fl. 6. Opinion; decision. Rom. of R. Syn. -- Contrivance; invention; design; scheme; project; stratagem; shift. -- Device, Contrivance. Device implies more of inventive power, and contrivance more of skill and dexterity in execution. A device usually has reference to something worked out for exhibition or show; a contrivance usually respects the arrangement or disposition of things with reference to securing some end. Devices were worn by knights-errant on their shields; contrivances are generally used to promote the practical convenience of life. The word device is often used in a bad sense; as, a crafty device; contrivance is almost always used in a good sense; as, a useful contrivance.

Possible synonyms: (Same meaning words of DEVICE)

• Emblem
• Device
• cognizance
• sign
• token
• symbol
• representation
• type
• badge
• mark
• Project
• Plan
• purpose
• design
• scheme
• contrivance
• device
• Resource
• Resources
• Material
• means
• productions
• supplies
• expedients
• wealth
• riches
• Scheme
• project
• draft
• proposal
• plot
• theory
• intrigue
• machination
• substitute
• Contrivance
• expedient
• pretext
• motive
• change
• evasion
• artifice
• resource
• transference

Possible antonyms: (opposite words of DEVICE)

• Conserve
• retain
• stabilitate
• fix
• clinch
• stand
• endure
• last
• hold
• Supply
• replenish
• import
• Recal
• withdraw
• draw
• retract
• pull
• attract
• rebound
• recoil
• adduce
• revert
• rebate
• Chance
• risk
• hazard
• revoke
• Miscalculate
• venture
• stake

Related words: (words related to DEVICE)

• SYMBOLISTIC; SYMBOLISTICAL
  Characterized by the use of symbols; as, symbolistic poetry.
• CHANCELLERY
  Chancellorship. Gower.
• HAZARDIZE
  A hazardous attempt or situation; hazard. Herself had run into that hazardize. Spenser.
• PROJECTION
  The representation of something; delineation; plan; especially, the representation of any object on a perspective plane, or such a delineation as would result were the chief points of the object thrown forward upon the plane, each in the direction
• BADGELESS
  Having no badge. Bp. Hall.
• RICHESSE
  Wealth; riches. See the Note under Riches. Some man desireth for to have richesse. Chaucer. The richesse of all heavenly grace. Spenser.
• DESIGN
  drawing, dessein a plan or scheme; all, ultimately, from L. designare to designate; de- + signare to mark, mark out, signum mark, sign. See 1. To draw preliminary outline or main features of; to sketch for a pattern or model; to delineate; to trace
• REVOKER
  One who revokes.
• DESIGNATE
  Designated; appointed; chosen. Sir G. Buck.
• ARTIFICER
  A military mechanic, as a blacksmith, carpenter, etc.; also, one who prepares the shells, fuses, grenades, etc., in a military laboratory. Syn. -- Artisan; artist. See Artisan. (more info) 1. An artistic worker; a mechanic or manufacturer; one
• REVERT
  To change back. See Revert, v. i. To revert a series , to treat a series, as y = a + bx + cx2 + etc., where one variable y is expressed in powers of a second variable x, so as to find therefrom the second variable x, expressed in a series arranged
• SUPPLYMENT
  A supplying or furnishing; supply. Shak.
• PURPOSELESS
  Having no purpose or result; objectless. Bp. Hall. -- Pur"pose*less*ness, n.
• BADGE
  A carved ornament on the stern of a vessel, containing a window or the representation of one. (more info) AS. beág, beáh, bracelet, collar, crown, OS b in comp., AS. b to bow, 1. A distinctive mark, token, sign, or cognizance, worn on the person;
• BADGERING
  1. The act of one who badgers. 2. The practice of buying wheat and other kinds of food in one place and selling them in another for a profit.
• VENTURESOME
  Inclined to venture; not loth to run risk or danger; venturous; bold; daring; adventurous; as, a venturesome boy or act. -- Ven"ture*some*ly, adv. -- Ven"ture*some*ness, n.
• IMPORTUNELY
  In an importune manner.
• RETRACTOR
  One who, or that which, retracts. Specifically: In breech-loading firearms, a device for withdrawing a cartridge shell from the barrel.
• PROJECTMENT
  Design; contrivance; projection. Clarendon.
• CHANGEFUL
  Full of change; mutable; inconstant; fickle; uncertain. Pope. His course had been changeful. Motley. -- Change"ful*ly, adv. -- Change"ful*ness, n.
• DISVENTURE
  A disadventure. Shelton.
• BETOKEN
  1. To signify by some visible object; to show by signs or tokens. A dewy cloud, and in the cloud a bow . . . Betokening peace from God, and covenant new. Milton. 2. To foreshow by present signs; to indicate something future by that which is seen
• SADDUCEEISM; SADDUCISM
  The tenets of the Sadducees.
• BYSTANDER
  One who stands near; a spectator; one who has no concern with the business transacting. He addressed the bystanders and scattered pamphlets among them. Palfrey. Syn. -- Looker on; spectator; beholder; observer.
• VORTEX THEORY
  The theory, advanced by Thomson on the basis of investigation by Helmholtz, that the atoms are vortically moving ring-shaped masses (or masses of other forms having a similar internal motion) of a homogeneous, incompressible, frictionless fluid.