contrive

[ kuhn-trahyv ]

/ kənˈtraɪv /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR contrive ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), con·trived, con·triv·ing.

to plan with ingenuity; devise; invent: The author contrived a clever plot.

to bring about or effect by a plan, scheme, or the like; manage: He contrived to gain their votes.

to plot (evil, treachery, etc.).

verb (used without object), con·trived, con·triv·ing.

to form designs; plan.

to plot.

Nearby words

contributory, contributory negligence, contrite, contrition, contrivance, contrive, contrived, control, control account, control board, control center

Origin of contrive

1275–1325; Middle English contreven < Middle French contreuv-, tonic stem of controver to devise, invent, Old French: to decide, agree upon < Late Latin contropāre to compare, equivalent to con- con- + *tropāre (> French trouver to find; see trover); development of vowel unclear

SYNONYMS FOR contrive

1 design, concoct. See prepare.

3 conspire, scheme.

5 connive.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR contrive ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

con·triv·a·ble, adjectivecon·triv·er, nounpre·con·trive, verb, pre·con·trived, pre·con·triv·ing.un·con·triv·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for contrive

There are thousands of ways to contrive a weapon that's at least as dangerous a two-inch hobby knife.
TSA Says Yes to Small Knives, Then No—What’s the Problem?|Patrick Smith|April 26, 2013|DAILY BEAST
He must contrive to keep his family alive as he strategizes.
Turning to Tolstoy’s ‘Hadji Murat’ as Boston Locked Down|Liesl Schillinger|April 22, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The Republicans contrive new ways every day to get less popular.
Why Obama Needs to Deliver a Tough Inaugural|Michael Tomasky|January 21, 2013|DAILY BEAST
That made me think, maybe they can contrive to do something similar on the mandate.
My Supreme Court-Health Care Prediction|Michael Tomasky|June 27, 2012|DAILY BEAST

But we could contrive something with rafts of light material.
Roger the Bold|F. S. Brereton
The Sultan will without doubt buy you; contrive it so, that he may think I am a dependant of yours.
The Princess of Ponthieu|Unknown
However just the comparison, I hope you will contrive to spoil it, and that your final determination will be to come.
The Works of William Cowper|William Cowper
But how did you contrive to get it fixed so quickly, my kind, good boy?
Harper's New Monthly Magazine, No. VI, November 1850, Vol. I|Various
I believe the lion-hearted king could contrive to get into rages sometimes.
Heriot's Choice|Rosa Nouchette Carey

British Dictionary definitions for contrive

contrive

/ (kənˈtraɪv) /

verb

(tr) to manage (something or to do something), esp by means of a trick; engineerhe contrived to make them meet

(tr) to think up or adapt ingeniously or elaboratelyhe contrived a new mast for the boat

to plot or scheme (treachery, evil, etc)

Derived Forms

contrivable, adjectivecontriver, noun

Word Origin for contrive

C14: from Old French controver, from Late Latin contropāre to represent by figures of speech, compare, from Latin com- together + tropus figure of speech, trope

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012