Dictionary

devisal en · NOUN

Etymology

Etymology tree English devise Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālisbor. Old French -albor. ▲ Latin -ālis Old French -elbor. ▲ Latin -ālisbor. Middle English -al English -al English devisal From devise + -al.

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) An act of devising.
   • Each word may be not unfitly compared to an invention; it has its own place, mode, and circumstances of devisal, its preparation in the previous habits of speech […] 1875, William Dwight Whitney, The Life and Growth of Language: An Outline of Linguistic Science:
   • 19th century, Francis Thompson, To a Snow-flake What heart could have thought you?— Past our devisal (O filigree petal!)

Forms