device
UK[dɪˈvaɪs]US[dɪˈvaɪs]
n
An object or piece of equipment that has been made or designed for a particular purpose.
n
A plan, method, or trick used to achieve something, often secretly or deceitfully.
Morpheme Breakdown
de
vise
de
down, away
vise
see, look
Etymology
The word "device" entered English in the late 13th century from Old French devis, meaning "division, separation, wish, or desire," which itself stemmed from the Latin verb dīvidere ("to divide"). The core Latin components are dis- ("apart") and vidēre ("to see"), with the original sense being "to see apart" or "to distinguish." This evolved into the idea of a plan or scheme formed by mental discernment. By the late 14th century, the meaning extended to a "mechanical contrivance," reflecting a physical object created from a mental design or plan, thus linking the abstract act of devising to its tangible result.
Analysis
Structure: de (down, away) + vise (see, look)
de: Latin origin, a prefix meaning "down, away, off, completely." It functions as an intensifier or indicates reversal or separation.
vise: From Old French vis, from Latin vidēre ("to see"). In this compound, it represents the concept of seeing or planning.
Examples
The new medical device can monitor a patient's heart rate remotely.
He used every device he could think of to avoid paying the fine.
This kitchen device makes peeling garlic incredibly easy.