51Թ

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View synonyms for

contrive

[kuhn-trahyv]

verb (used with object)

contrived, contriving 
  1. to plan with ingenuity; devise; invent.

    The author contrived a clever plot.

    Synonyms: ,
  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.).

    Synonyms: ,


verb (used without object)

contrived, contriving 
  1. to form designs; plan.

  2. to plot.

    Synonyms:

contrive

/ əˈٰɪ /

verb

  1. (tr) to manage (something or to do something), esp by means of a trick; engineer

    he contrived to make them meet

  2. (tr) to think up or adapt ingeniously or elaborately

    he contrived a new mast for the boat

  3. to plot or scheme (treachery, evil, etc)

“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
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Other 51Թ Forms

  • contrivable adjective
  • contriver noun
  • precontrive verb
  • uncontriving adjective
  • Dzˈٰ noun
  • Dzˈٰ adjective
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of contrive1

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English contreven, from Middle French contreuv-, tonic stem of controver “to devise, invent,” Old French: “to decide, agree upon,” from Late Latin DzԳٰDZ “to compare,” equivalent to con- con- + (unattested) ٰDZ (becoming French trouver “to find”; trover ); development of vowel unclear
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of contrive1

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

See prepare.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Did other parties contrive to exclude Reform UK?

From

He fell for her image and contrived to meet her, and despite Twain’s many eccentricities, her distinguished family accepted him.

From

“Trying to achieve these cuts wholesale through a contrived and meaningless quota could deprive the military of significant operational acumen at a dangerous time in our history,” a Pentagon source told me on background.

From

But our associates, who are assigned to each show, adapt the teaching of the illusions to the needs of the performers, because illusions have to feel natural to not appear contrived.

From

Her death, largely contrived by Cromwell at the behest of his prince, bookends the 2015 adaptation and opens the 2025 sequel, creating a kind of illusion that the ten years separating them never existed.

From

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