Deviator - Devote

Prev Next

3. (Com.) The voluntary and unnecessary departure of a ship from, or delay in, the regular and usual course of the specific voyage insured, thus releasing the underwriters from their responsibility.
[ Webster]

4. (Statistics, Physics) the difference between an expected value of an observation or measurement and the actual value.
[PJC]

Coloq. Deviation of a falling body (Physics), that deviation from a strictly vertical line of descent which occurs in a body falling freely, in consequence of the rotation of the earth. -- Coloq. Deviation of the compass , the angle which the needle of a ship's compass makes with the magnetic meridian by reason of the magnetism of the iron parts of the ship. -- Coloq. Deviation of the line of the vertical , the difference between the actual direction of a plumb line and the direction it would have if the earth were a perfect ellipsoid and homogeneous, -- caused by the attraction of a mountain, or irregularities in the earth's density.
[ Webster]

Deviator (?), n. [L., a forsaker.] One who, or that which, deviates.
[ Webster]

Deviatory (?), a. Tending to deviate; devious; as, deviatory motion. [R.] Tully.
[ Webster]

Device (?), n. [OE. devis, devise, will, intention, opinion, invention, fr. F. devis architect's plan and estimates (in OF., division, plan, wish), devise device (in sense 3), in OF. also, division, wish, last will, fr. deviser. See , v. t., and cf. , n.] 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.
[ Webster]

His device in against Babylon, to destroy it. Jer. li. 11.
[ Webster]

Their recent device of demanding benevolences. Hallam.
[ Webster]

He disappointeth the devices of the crafty. Job v. 12.
[ Webster]

2. Power of devising; invention; contrivance.
[ Webster]

I must have instruments of my own device. Landor.
[ Webster]

3. (a) 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 . (b) Improperly, an heraldic bearing.
[ Webster]

Knights-errant used to distinguish themselves by devices on their shields. Addison.
[ Webster]

A banner with this strange device -
Excelsior. Longfellow.
[ Webster]

4. Anything fancifully conceived. Shak.
[ Webster]

5. A spectacle or show. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
[ Webster]

6. Opinion; decision. [Obs.] Rom. of R.

7. any artifactual object designed to perform an action or process, with or without an operator in attendance.
[PJC]

Syn. -- Contrivance; invention; design; scheme; project; stratagem; shift. -- , . 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.
[ Webster]

Deviceful (?), a. Full of devices; inventive. [R.]
[ Webster]

A carpet, rich, and of deviceful thread. Chapman.
[ Webster]

Devicefully, adv. In a deviceful manner. [R.]
[ Webster]

Devil (?), n. [AS. deófol, deóful; akin to G. �eufel, Goth. diabaúlus; all fr. L. diabolus the devil, Gr. � the devil, the slanderer, fr. � to slander, calumniate, orig., to throw across; � across + � to throw, let fall, fall; cf. Skr. gal to fall. Cf. .] 1. The Evil One; Satan, represented as the tempter and spiritual of mankind.
[ Webster]

[Jesus] being forty days tempted of the devil. Luke iv. 2.
[ Webster]

That old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world. Rev. xii. 9.
[ Webster]

2. An evil spirit; a demon.
[ Webster]

A dumb man possessed with a devil. Matt. ix. 32.
[ Webster]

3. A very wicked person; hence, any great evil. “That devil Glendower.” “The devil drunkenness.” Shak.
[ Webster]

Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? John vi. 70.
[ Webster]

4. An expletive of surprise, vexation, or emphasis, or, ironically, of negation. [Low]
[ Webster]

The devil a puritan that he is, . . . but a timepleaser. Shak.
[ Webster]

The things, we know, are neither rich nor rare,
But wonder how the devil they got there. Pope.
[ Webster]

5. (Cookery) A dish, as a bone with the meat, broiled and excessively peppered; a grill with Cayenne pepper.
[ Webster]

Men and women busy in baking, broiling, roasting oysters, and preparing devils on the gridiron. Sir W. Scott.
[ Webster]

6. (Manuf.) A machine for tearing or cutting rags, cotton, etc.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Blue devils . See under . -- Coloq. Cartesian devil . See under . -- Coloq. Devil bird (Zoöl.), one of two or more South African drongo shrikes (Edolius retifer, and Edolius remifer), believed by the natives to be connected with sorcery. -- Coloq. Devil may care , reckless, defiant of authority; -- used adjectively. Longfellow. -- Coloq. Devil's apron (Bot.), the large kelp (Laminaria saccharina, and Laminaria longicruris) of the Atlantic ocean, having a blackish, leathery expansion, shaped somewhat like an apron. -- Coloq. Devil's coachhorse . (Zoöl.) (a) The black rove beetle (Ocypus olens). [Eng.] (b) A large, predacious, hemipterous insect (Prionotus cristatus); the wheel bug. [U.S.] -- Coloq. Devil's darning-needle . (Zoöl.) See under , v. t. -- Coloq. Devil's fingers , Coloq. Devil's hand (Zoöl.), the common British starfish (Asterias rubens); -- also applied to a sponge with stout branches. [Prov. Eng., Irish & Scot.] -- Coloq. Devil's riding-horse (Zoöl.), the American mantis (Mantis Carolina). -- Coloq. The Devil's tattoo , a drumming with the fingers or feet. “Jack played the Devil's tattoo on the door with his boot heels.” F. Hardman (Blackw. Mag.). -- Coloq. Devil worship , worship of the power of evil; -- still practiced by barbarians who believe that the good and evil forces of nature are of equal power. -- Coloq. Printer's devil , the youngest apprentice in a printing office, who runs on errands, does dirty work (as washing the ink rollers and sweeping), etc. “Without fearing the printer's devil or the sheriff's officer.” Macaulay. -- Coloq. Tasmanian devil (Zoöl.), a very savage carnivorous marsupial of Tasmania (Dasyurus ursinus syn. Diabolus ursinus). -- Coloq. To play devil with , to molest extremely; to ruin. [Low]
[ Webster]

devil (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deviled (?) or Devilled; p. pr. & vb. n. Deviling (?) or Devilling.] 1. To make like a devil; to invest with the character of a devil.
[ Webster]

2. To grill with Cayenne pepper; to season highly in cooking, as with pepper.
[ Webster]

A deviled leg of turkey. W. Irving.

Devil-diver (?), Devil bird (�), n.. (Zoöl.) A small water bird. See .
[ Webster]

deviled egg a hard-boiled egg, sliced into halves and with the yolk removed and replaced with a paste, usually made from the yolk and mayonnaise, seasoned with salt and/or spices such as paprika.
[PJC]

Deviless (?), n. A she-devil. [R.] Sterne.
[ Webster]

Devilet (?), n. A little devil. [R.] Barham.
[ Webster]

Devilfish (?), n. (Zoöl.) (a) A huge ray (Manta birostris or Cephaloptera vampyrus) of the Gulf of Mexico and Southern Atlantic coasts. Several other related species take the same name. See . (b) A large cephalopod, especially the very large species of Octopus and Architeuthis. See . (c) The gray whale of the Pacific coast. See . (d) The goosefish or angler (Lophius), and other allied fishes. See .
[ Webster]

Deviling, n. A young devil. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
[ Webster]

Devilish, a. 1. Resembling, characteristic of, or pertaining to, the devil; diabolical; wicked in the extreme. “Devilish wickedness.” Sir P. Sidney.
[ Webster]

This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. James iii. 15.
[ Webster]

2. Extreme; excessive. [Colloq.] Dryden.

Syn. -- Diabolical; infernal; hellish; satanic; wicked; malicious; detestable; destructive.

-- Devilishly, adv. -- Devilishness, n.
[ Webster]

Devilism (?), n. The state of the devil or of devils; doctrine of the devil or of devils. Bp. Hall.
[ Webster]

Devilize (?), v. t. To make a devil of. [R.]
[ Webster]

He that should deify a saint, should wrong him as much as he that should devilize him. Bp. Hall.
[ Webster]

Devilkin (?), n. A little devil; a devilet.
[ Webster]

devil-may-care adj. 1. cheerfully irresponsible.
Syn. -- carefree, happy-go-lucky, harum-scarum, slaphappy.
[WordNet 1.5]

2. marked by a carefree unconventionality or disreputableness.
Syn. -- raffish, rakish.
[WordNet 1.5]

Devilment (?), n. Deviltry. Bp. Warburton.
[ Webster]

Devilry (?), n.; pl. Devilries (�). 1. Conduct suitable to the devil; extreme wickedness; deviltry.
[ Webster]

Stark lies and devilry. Sir T. More.
[ Webster]

2. The whole body of evil spirits. Tylor.
[ Webster]

Devil's darning-needle. (Zoöl.) A dragon fly. See Darning needle, under , v. t.
[ Webster]

Devilship, n. The character or person of a devil or the devil. Cowley.
[ Webster]

Deviltry (?), n.; pl. Deviltries (�). Diabolical conduct; malignant mischief; devilry. C. Reade.
[ Webster]

Devilwood (?), n. (Bot.) A kind of tree (Osmanthus Americanus), allied to the European olive.
[ Webster]

Devious (?), a. [L. devius; de + via way. See .] 1. Out of a straight line; winding; varying from directness; as, a devious path or way.
[ Webster]

2. Going out of the right or common course; going astray; erring; wandering; as, a devious step.

Syn. -- Wandering; roving; rambling; vagrant.

-- Deviously, adv. -- Deviousness, n.
[ Webster]

Devirginate (?), a. [L. devirginatus, p. p. of devirginare.] Deprived of virginity. [R.]
[ Webster]

Devirginate (?), v. t. To deprive of virginity; to deflower. [R.] Sandys.
[ Webster]

Devirgination (?), n. [L. devirginatio.] A deflowering. [R.] Feltham.
[ Webster]

Devisable (?), a. [From .] 1. Capable of being devised, invented, or contrived.
[ Webster]

2. Capable of being bequeathed, or given by will.
[ Webster]

Devisal (?), n. A devising. Whitney.
[ Webster]

Devise (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Devised (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Devising.] [OF. deviser to distribute, regulate, direct, relate, F., to chat, fr. L. divisus divided, distributed, p. p. of dividere. See , and cf. .] 1. To form in the mind by new combinations of ideas, new applications of principles, or new arrangement of parts; to formulate by thought; to contrive; to excogitate; to invent; to plan; to scheme; as, to devise an engine, a new mode of writing, a plan of defense, or an argument.
[ Webster]

To devise curious works. Ex. CCTV. 32.
[ Webster]

Devising schemes to realize his ambitious views. Bancroft.
[ Webster]

2. To plan or scheme for; to purpose to obtain.
[ Webster]

For wisdom is most riches; fools therefore
They are which fortunes do by vows devise. Spenser.
[ Webster]

3. To say; to relate; to describe. [Obs.] Chaucer.
[ Webster]

4. To imagine; to guess. [Obs.] Spenser.
[ Webster]

5. (Law) To give by will; -- used of real estate; formerly, also, of chattels.

Syn. -- To bequeath; invent; discover; contrive; excogitate; imagine; plan; scheme. See .
[ Webster]

Devise, v. i. To form a scheme; to lay a plan; to contrive; to consider.
[ Webster]

I thought, devised, and Pallas heard my prayer. Pope.
[ Webster]

☞ Devise was formerly followed by of; as, let us devise of ease. Spenser.
[ Webster]

Devise (?), n. [OF. devise division, deliberation, wish, will, testament. See .] 1. The act of giving or disposing of real estate by will; -- sometimes improperly applied to a bequest of personal estate.
[ Webster]

2. A will or testament, conveying real estate; the clause of a will making a gift of real property.
[ Webster]

Fines upon devises were still exacted. Bancroft.
[ Webster]

3. Property devised, or given by will.
[ Webster]

Devise (?), n. Device. See . [Obs.]
[ Webster]

Devisee (?), n. (Law) One to whom a devise is made, or real estate given by will.
[ Webster]

Deviser (?), n. One who devises.
[ Webster]

Devisor (?), n. (Law) One who devises, or gives real estate by will; a testator; -- correlative to devisee.
[ Webster]

Devitable (?), a. [L. devitare to avoid; de + vitare to shun, avoid.] Avoidable. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

Devitalize (?), v. t. To deprive of life or vitality. -- Devitalization (#), n.
[ Webster]

Devitation (?), n. [L. devitatio.] An avoiding or escaping; also, a warning. [Obs.] Bailey.
[ Webster]

Devitrification (?), n. The act or process of devitrifying, or the state of being devitrified. Specifically, the conversion of molten glassy matter into a stony mass by slow cooling, the result being the formation of crystallites, microbites, etc., in the glassy base, which are then called devitrification products.
[ Webster]

Devitrify (?), v. t. To deprive of glasslike character; to take away vitreous luster and transparency from.
[ Webster]

Devocalize (?), v. t. To make toneless; to deprive of vowel quality. -- Devocalization, n.
[ Webster]

If we take a high vowel, such as (i) [= nearly i of bit], and devocalize it, we obtain a hiss which is quite distinct enough to stand for a weak (jh). H. Sweet.
[ Webster]

Devocation (?), n. [L. devocare to call off or away; de + vocare to call.] A calling off or away. [R.] Hallywell.
[ Webster]

Devoid (?), v. t. [OE. devoiden to leave, OF. desvuidier, desvoidier, to empty out. See .] To empty out; to remove.
[ Webster]

Devoid, a. [See , v. t.] 1. Void; empty; vacant. [Obs.] Spenser.
[ Webster]

2. Destitute; not in possession; -- with of; as, devoid of sense; devoid of pity or of pride.
[ Webster]

Devoir (?), n. [F., fr. L. debere to owe. See .] Duty; service owed; hence, due act of civility or respect; -- now usually in the plural; as, they paid their devoirs to the ladies. “Do now your devoid, young knights!” Chaucer.
[ Webster]

Devolute (?), v. t. [L. devolutus, p. p. of devolvere. See .] To devolve. [Obs.] Foxe.
[ Webster]

Devolution (?), n. [LL. devolutio: cf. F. dévolution.] 1. The act of rolling down. [R.]
[ Webster]

The devolution of earth down upon the valleys. Woodward.
[ Webster]

2. Transference from one person to another; a passing or devolving upon a successor.
[ Webster]

The devolution of the crown through a . . . channel known and conformable to old constitutional requisitions. De Quincey.
[ Webster]

Devolve (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Devolved (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Devolving.] [L. devolvere, devolutum, to roll down; de + volvere to roll down; de + volvere to roll. See .] 1. To roll onward or downward; to pass on.
[ Webster]

Every headlong stream
Devolves its winding waters to the main. Akenside.
[ Webster]

Devolved his rounded periods. Tennyson.
[ Webster]

2. To transfer from one person to another; to deliver over; to hand down; -- generally with upon, sometimes with to or into.
[ Webster]

They devolved a considerable share of their power upon their favorite. Burke.
[ Webster]

They devolved their whole authority into the hands of the council of sixty. Addison.
[ Webster]

Devolve, v. i. To pass by transmission or succession; to be handed over or down; -- generally with on or upon, sometimes with to or into; as, after the general fell, the command devolved upon (or on) the next officer in rank.
[ Webster]

His estate . . . devolved to Lord Somerville. Johnson.
[ Webster]

Devolvement (?), n. The act or process of devolving;; devolution.
[ Webster]

Devon (?), n. One of a breed of hardy cattle originating in the country of Devon, England. Those of pure blood have a deep red color. The small, longhorned variety, called North Devons, is distinguished by the superiority of its working oxen.
[ Webster]

Devonian (?), a. (Geol.) Of or pertaining to Devon or Devonshire in England; as, the Devonian rocks, period, or system.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Devonian age (Geol.), the age next older than the Carboniferous and later than the Silurian; -- called also the Age of fishes. The various strata of this age compose the Devonian formation or system, and include the old red sandstone of Great Britain. They contain, besides plants and numerous invertebrates, the bony portions of many large and remarkable fishes of extinct groups. See the Diagram under .
[ Webster]

Devonian, n. The Devonian age or formation.
[ Webster]

Devoration (?), n. [L. devoratio. See .] The act of devouring. [Obs.] Holinshed.
[ Webster]

Devotary (?), n. [See , .] A votary. [Obs.] J. Gregory.
[ Webster]

Devote (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Devoted; p. pr. & vb. n. Devoting.] [L. devotus, p. p. of devovere; de + vovere to vow. See , and cf. , .] 1. To appropriate by vow; to set apart or dedicate by a solemn act; to consecrate; also, to consign over; to doom; to evil; to devote one to destruction; the city was devoted to the flames.
[ Webster]

No devoted thing that a man shall devote unto the Lord . . . shall be sold or redeemed. Lev. xxvii. 28.
[ Webster]

2. To execrate; to curse. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

3. To give up wholly; to addict; to direct the attention of wholly or compound; to attach; -- often with a reflexive pronoun; as, to devote one's self to science, to one's friends, to piety, etc.
[ Webster]

Prev Next

Concept Explore Home

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z