devisees and other legalese

So, a devisee is "the individual or entity receiving real property as the result of a devise," which, of course, simply pushes the question forward a notch. A devise turns out to be "the act of transferring real property by will; a clause of a will describing such a transfer; the property disposed of in such a transfer."

But what does it mean to "occup[y] ... property actually, peaceably, openly, notoriously, exclusively, continuously, and adversely"?

Google turns me up information on squatters' rights:

adverse possession: A method of gaining legal title to real property by the actual, open, hostile, and continuous possession of it to the exclusion of its true owner for the period prescribed by state law.
(definition from a Blogger blog called "Project Dissent," which cites West's Encyclopedia of American Law)

...hostile? Like, what, you sit on your porch with your shotgun?

( It goes on to explain: )

Huh. So, now I understand that notice from yesterday. You learn something new every day.