Middle English Dictionary Entry
dēvīs n.
Entry Info
| Forms | dēvīs n. Also divis, device, devise. |
| Etymology | OF devis & devise. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Intent, desire; after ~, according to (one's) purpose or desire; at ~, at (one's) pleasure or discretion, as (one) likes; (b) an expressed intent or desire; a request or order; at (after, bi, unto) ~, at (another's) will or request, according to instructions, directions, or an order; (c) a bequest in a will; the act of bequeathing.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330(?c1300) Bevis (Auch)1887 : To sire Beues a smot þer wiþ A sterne strok..Ac a failede of his diuis.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)1663 : Take we þe heuedes of þys Sarsyns..Euerech trossye on, at his dyuys, to þe arsoun of his sadel.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)3620 : Fayne y wolde my felawe saue, After our commun deuys, As y am to hem treuþe ypliȝt.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)11784 : Hyt ys sloghnes and feyntes To take penaunce at þy dyuys..þe ryȝt penaunce Shal be þe prestes ordynaunce.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.1589 : Nature..hir [Medea] made lyke to hir deuise, Þat to biholde it was a paradys.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)1326 : For ther nys so good paradys As to have a love at his devys.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)120 : Devyce, purpose: Seria.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)224 : Þyse Noe sones..departed al þys werd..And names gaf at þeir deuis: Assye, Aufryk, & Europe.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)549 : Wham þou gyue hit, ys oure deuis, Scheo schal for euere bere þe prys.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)101/28 : Þanne it ys to þe to loke whether it be helpand..and after þy deuys enbrace it, & if it be noght profytable, leue it vterly.
- a1500 Methodius(3) (Stw 953)28 : Man he made..And seyde, 'adam, at thy deuyse, Take all þis ward & be þu here.'
- 1532(?a1400) RRose (Thynne)3621 : Now have I leave overal to go; Now am I raysed, at my devys, Fro helle unto paradys.
b
- a1350(c1307) Death Edw.I (Hrl 2253)26 : Ich biqueþe..Þat hit be write at mi deuys, ouer þe see þat hue be diht..aȝein þe heþene forte fyhte.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)525 : Mi deuise ich haue ysade.
- (1370) Doc.York in Sur.Soc.35182 : He sall be chastyde..atte y loking ande devys of ye maistyr masonn.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)4083 : Gweneloun..haþ y-rad the, at oure deuys, As it wil best auayle.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.816 : That he wolde been oure gouernour..And we wol reuled been, at his deuys, In heigh and lough.
- (1395) EEWills6/28 : To do make a vestiment, after deuys of my forsayd sone.
- a1400 Floris (Eg 2862)79/341 : Þou mast me fynde, at my deuyse, Seuen horses al of prys.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.167 : 'Do not þat vilany, fettred þat I be!'..'þou salle haue at þin owen deuys; þi life I salle þe saue.'
- (1418) Grocer Lond.in Bk.Lond.E.196/50 : At deuyse of the Maystres and the feleshyp ther beien chosyn vj of the compaignie in helpyng and counseylyng of the same Maystres.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)1974 : I wole ben hool at youre devis, For to fulfille youre lykyng.
- (1429) Doc.in Flasdieck Origurk.75 : Landez or rentez..to be choseyn by þe deuyse of þe foresaid Richart Wyeduill and be his councell..to be payet..aftre þe deuyse and þe councell of both þe parties.
- (1432) Proc.Chanc.in Cal.PCEliz.1.p.xxviii : Quyte the now to my Lorde as us semeth best, and atte our devys, or elles thow shalt have indignacion of my Lorde.
- (1448) in Willis & C.Cambridge 1353 : If..the edificacions of my saide Colleges..accordyng vnto my seid devis and appointement herin conteyned shal not be fulli accomplisshed [etc.].
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)1291 : I graunte ȝow..vitailles..Wel more þan ys ȝoure deuise.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)1448 : Lokes, þat ȝe doo be my deuys!
- a1500 Conq.Irel.(Rwl B.490)19/25 : The entrees..by Robertis deuyce, thay setten men forto stopyn.
c
- c1436 Ipswich Domesday(2) (Add 25011)77 : With inne the ferst xl dayes after the testament preved and the sesyn delivered to the cleymer be devis.
- c1436 Ipswich Domesday(2) (Add 25011)83 : That the axand by devis may averryn the devis a fornseyd by good enquest.
- c1436 Ipswich Domesday(2) (Add 25011)87 : He may averryn devis and the wille of the dede by good enquest of the next neyghboures.
2.
Opinion, judgment; advice; at (to, as at, as to ) ~, in (one's) opinion or judgment; bi ~, with care; of ~, by choice.
Associated quotations
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)199 : Bounden..Wyth þe myryeste margarys, at my deuyse.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.3358 : Dephebus and Paris..with hem brouȝt, chosen by devis, Þre þousand knyȝtes.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)2015 : Sikerly, as to my devis, It scheweth wel that thow were not wis.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)651 : For certys, as at my devys, Ther is no place in paradys So good inne for to dwelle or be, As in that gardyn, thoughte me.
- c1475(a1400) Amadace (Tay 9)p.38 : Thenne iche mon sayd thayre deuise.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.50 : Alle þi bokes sette I at no pris; I seke wel more þe habyt of þy þoght Where I had made a sete, of my devise.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.76 : Suche guerdoun fro hire þow bare away..Þat neuere before þat day, at my devys, Sche graunted noght vnto no comynere.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)17743 : I wolde ther-on have thy devys.
- a1475 Heart & Eye(3) (Lngl 258)40 : In that forest was muche more disport Than Instrument cowde make, to my deuise.
- a1475 Siege Troy(1) (Hrl 525)172/352 : Eche man seyth þanne his devis.
- a1500(?a1400) Torrent (Chet 8009)778 : Now woll ye tell me yowr deuyce..How I may governe me?
- a1500(?c1440) Lydg.HGS (Lnsd 699)401 : Pees to preferre as to my devis..Makith no delay.
3.
(a) A plan or design; a literary composition or device; (b) a disguise; a fashion in dress; (c) a device, scheme, stratagem, intrigue.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)381/156 : He..mat a-boute hou ech hous scholde beo. 'Sire,' he seide, 'mi deuis þou schalt here i-seo: Þe halle ichulle furst arere [etc.].'
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.115 : Ignoraunce doþe my penne lette, In her ordre my termys for to sette, And oft chaungeth swiche harneis & devis.
- a1456(a1449) Lydg.Mum.London (Trin-C R.3.20)p.691 : Nowe foloweþe nexst þe devyse of a momyng to fore þe Kyng Henry þe Sixst..made by Lidegate.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)3/5 : Certein defensis aȝens hem whiche wolen inpugne þe conceit and þe deuise of þis book.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)7/1 : Þe deuyce and setting of þis present book.
b
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)359 : Þis grete god..sall glide to þi chambre In a dredfull deuys, a dragons fourme.
- c1475(c1399) Mum & S.(1) (Cmb Ll.4.14)3.178 : To ledyn her lust all here lyff-daies In quentise of cloþinge for to queme sir Pride..And iche day a newe deuyse.
c
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1102 : Ful was the feste..of song and of gladnesse, Of many an amorous lokyng and devys.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1272 : This Troyan..can..wayten hire at festes and at daunces..And beren in his devyses, for hire sake, Not I not what.
- a1450(?c1430) Lydg.DM(1) (Hnt EL 26.A.13)436 : Ȝe that be Jentel..fre of herte..Ful of deuyses and chaunge yn ȝowre corage..al shal turne in to asshes dede.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.KEng.(1) (Hrl 372)180 : He gat Caleis bi his prudent devis.
4.
(a) An artistic design, a work of art; an ornament; (b) a heraldic design, device; (c) a mechanical device; arblaster (boue) of ~, a crossbow fitted with a winch.
Associated quotations
a
- (1429) Will Braybroke in Ess.AST 5298 : My body to be buryed..afore the myddes of the heigh auter under a flat stoon of Marbre with such deuys as thenketh to myn executors.
- (1449) Will York in Sur.Soc.30156 : I bequeth to Elizabeth..a Franssh boke, a devise of gold.
- a1450 For lac (Tan 346)13 : I se..many paleys fresshly apparayled, Devises new vncouthely entayled.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)1576 : The Stretis were streght..the sydes..of sotell deuyse Was archet full Abilly for aylyng of shoures.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)3053 : As it were coruyn by crafte..Proporcionet pertly with painteres deuyse.
- (1464-5) Acc.Howard in RC 57490 : My master bout of Arnold gooldsmythe a dyvyse of goold for mastres Margret.
- (1467) Paston (Gairdner)4.263 : My master gaff here a devyse of goolde with xiiij lynkes..set with..Rubyis.
- a1500 Lydg.LOL (Adv 19.3.1)p.114 : Ye wemen all schuld take hede With yor perles..How that yor quene, flowre of womonhed, Of no devyse enbrowdyrd hath her wede.
b
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.8236 : Worþi knyȝtes freschely armyd new, With diuises of many sondri hewe.
- a1486 Jousts of Peace (Mrg M 775)39 : We Herrowdys of Armis beryng scheldis of deviis.
- a1486 Jousts of Peace (Mrg M 775)40 : A helme well stuffyd with a Crest of hys de viis.
- a1500(a1450) Gener.(2) (Trin-C O.5.2)2608 : He had on ser Amelokkez sheld With his devise.
- a1500(a1450) Gener.(2) (Trin-C O.5.2)2405 : What harmys he bare and what devise.
c
- c1450(?a1400) Siege Milan (Add 31042)1292 : Oure Cristyn men..Bendis vp bowes of devyce.
- c1450 Rich.(Add 31042)3998 : And K. R[ichard] gart bend arblasters of devyce.
- a1475 Siege Troy(1) (Hrl 525)187/1069 : Eche toure is full a-bought þe walle Of Arblast devise and spryngalle.
5.
A boundary, division.
Associated quotations
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)139 : I hoped þe water were a deuyse Bytwene myrþez by merez made.
6.
Prep. phrases [see also 1 & 2]: (a) at devis(e, at point ~, perfectly, neatly, clearly; -- a common verse tag; (b) bi ~, with ingenuity or art; (c) after ~, according to (a certain) fashion or custom; (d) with ~, in (a certain) manner; (e) a ~, of the best.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3689 : Absolon..hym arrayeth gay, at poynt deuys.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sq.(Manly-Rickert)F.560 : So peynted he, and kembde at poynt deuys As wel his wordes as his contenaunce.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)830 : So noble he was of his stature..With lymes wrought at poynt devys.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)1215 : Hir nose was wrought at poynt devys.
- (1440) *Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)3584 : His manhood was proued at best deuyse.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)2275 : Folk in armes preeued at deuyse.
- a1450 Parton.(1) (UC C.188)8458 : At poynt-devyse They haue the wynd and wedyr at wyll.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)917 : The kyng..That saw in drem, at poynt devys, Helle and erthe and paradys.
- a1500(a1400) Ipom.(1) (Chet 8009)4143 : To day my houndes hath renne right wele..Rydell ran at devyse.
- a1500 Mirror Salv.(Beeleigh)p.135 : This knyght faght so wele at devis.
b
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)3205 : Hir goodly semblaunt, by devys, I trowe were maad in paradys.
- 1532(?a1400) RRose (Thynne)1413 : But I ne can the nombre telle Of stremys smal that by devys Myrthe had don come through condys.
c
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)4388 : In yche yle vppon erthe, eftur hor deuise, Thai made mowmettes.
d
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)8/259 : In þe xix pagent xal seynt jhon baptyse cryst..with which devys as we best may.
e
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)617 : Þe cercle watz more o prys Þat vmbeclypped hys croun, Of diamauntez a deuys.