contrive
verb (used with object)
to plan with ingenuity; devise; invent.
was contriving
-
past progressiveof contrive.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Sitting there by my fire, with that day's memories still glowing about her, she was contriving further ones for the morrow....
From The Tower of Oblivion by Oliver [pseud.] Onions
In a moment he was outside, and the thrill of a great hope shot through him, with the thought that for some reason or other somebody was contriving his escape.
From The Red Derelict by Bertram Mitford
Already the elder woman was contriving to let Stillman know something of her antecedents.
From The Blood Red Dawn by Charles Caldwell Dobie
I was contriving to be dissatisfied with you: Forgive me, and command my best services.
From The History of Sir Charles Grandison, Volume 4 (of 7) by Samuel Richardson
All the time that Mrs. Potten had been running through a list of the marriages, births, etc., of all her former servants, Lady Dashwood was contriving a telegram to Lady Belinda Scott.
From The New Warden by Mrs. David G. Ritchie
