to plan with ingenuity; devise; invent: The author contrived a clever plot.
2.
to bring about or effect by a plan, scheme, or the like; manage: He contrived to gain their votes.
3.
to plot (evil, treachery, etc.).
–verb (used without object)
4.
to form designs; plan.
5.
to plot.
Origin: 1275–1325; ME contreven < MF contreuv-, tonic s. of controver to devise, invent, OF: to decide, agree upon < LL contropāre to compare, equiv. to con-con-+ *tropāre (> F trouver to find; see trover); development of vowel unclear
Related forms:
con⋅triv⋅a⋅ble, adjective
con⋅triv⋅er, noun
Synonyms: 1.design, concoct. See prepare.3.conspire, scheme. 5.connive.
con·trive (kən-trīv') v.
con·trived, con·triv·ing, con·trives
v.
tr.
To plan with cleverness or ingenuity; devise: contrive ways to amuse the children.
To invent or fabricate, especially by improvisation: contrived a swing from hanging vines.
To plan with evil intent; scheme: contrived a plot to seize power.
To bring about, as by scheming; manage: somehow contrived to get past the guards unnoticed.
v.
intr. To form plans or schemes.
[Middle English contreven, from Old French controver, contreuv-, from Medieval Latin contropāre, to compare : Latin com-, com- + Latin tropus, turn, manner, style (from Greek tropos; see trep- in Indo-European roots).] con·triv'er n.
con·trived (kən-trīvd') adj. Obviously planned or calculated; not spontaneous or natural; labored: a novel with a contrived ending. con·triv'ed·ly (-trī'vĭd-lē, -trīvd'lē) adv.
[kuh
n-trahyvd] 