Left to one's own devices
Posted by Smokey Stover on July 06, 2009 at 14:45
In Reply to: Left to one's own devices posted by Michael on July 06, 2009 at 07:57:
: "Left to his/your/my own devices". I have been given to understand that this phrase is from heraldic fighting. I knight being left alone to defend his standard (device) would use any means to survive. Any one else heard this origin?
A device is anything devised, that is, planned, invented, contrived, imagined, and the like. The word came into English from the French "devis," which has more than one meaning. True, the image used on a flag or other ensign can be called a device, or devis. But so can anythng of someone's design. The Oxford English Dictionary is very consistent in the meanings it attributes to "device." Here is what I think is most relevant.
"3. Will, pleasure, inclination, fancy, desire. In earlier use chiefly in phr. at one's (own) device [OF. à mon, ton, etc. devis]; later only in pl.; now only in phr. left to one's own devices, etc., where it is associated with sense 6. (orig devis)."
The examples, starting in c1300, all bear this out, without any references to heraldry or battles in the Age of Chivalry.
Sense 6 emphasizes the planning or intention side of "device," including wicked stratagems.
"6. Something devised or contrived for bringing about some end or result; an arrangement, plan, scheme, project, contrivance; an ingenious or clever expedient; often one of an underhand or evil character; a plot, stratagem, trick."
Sense 3 seems to explain more directly the idea of "one's own devices," which has no connotation of ruse or stratagem.
SS