DEVICE  , a

scheme, plan, simple mechanical contrivance; also a pattern or design, particularly an heraldic design or emblem, often combined with a motto or legend . " Device " and its doublet " devise " come from the two Old French forms devis and devise of the Latin divisa, things divided, from dividere, to separate, used in the sense of to arrange, set out, apportion . Devise," as a substantive, is now only used as a legal term for a disposition. of property by will, by a modern convention restricted to a disposition of real property, the term " bequest " being used of personalty (see WILL) . This use is directly due to the Medieval Latin meaning of dividere = testamento disponere . In its verbal form, " devise " is used not only in the legal sense, but also in the sense of to plan, arrange, scheme .