contrive

contrive
con|trive [kənˈtraıv] v [T]
[Date: 1200-1300; : Old French; Origin: controver, from Late Latin contropare]
1.) formal to succeed in doing something in spite of difficulties
contrive to do sth
Schindler contrived to save more than 1,000 Polish Jews from the Nazis.
2.) to arrange an event or situation in a clever way, especially secretly or by deceiving people
The lawsuit says oil companies contrived the oil shortage in the 1970s.
3.) to make or invent something in a skilful way, especially because you need it suddenly
In 1862, a technique was contrived to take a series of photographs showing stages of movement.

Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.

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  • contrive — contrive, devise, invent, frame, concoct mean to find a way of making or doing something or of achieving an end by the exercise of one s mind. Contrive implies ingenuity or cleverness in planning, designing, or in scheming; it is a matter of… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Contrive — are a heavy metal band[1] from Melbourne, Australia formed in 1999. Their musical style has been compared to that of Sepultura.[2] The band consists of bassist Tim Stahlmann and twin brothers Paul Haug (vocals, guitars) and Andrew Haug… …   Wikipedia

  • Contrive — Con*trive (k[o^]n*tr[imac]v ), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Contrived}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Contriving}.] [OE. contriven, contreven, controven, to invent, OF. controver, contruver; con + trouver to find. See {Troubadour}, {trover}.] To form by an exercise… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • contrive — [kən trīv′] vt. contrived, contriving [ME contreven < OFr controver, to find out, contrive, imagine < VL contropare, to compare < com, COM + tropus, TROPE] 1. to think up; devise; scheme; plan [to contrive a way to help] 2. to construct… …   English World dictionary

  • Contrive — Con*trive , v. i. To make devices; to form designs; to plan; to scheme; to plot. [1913 Webster] The Fates with traitors do contrive. Shak. [1913 Webster] Thou hast contrived against th very life Of the defendant. Shak. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • contrive — I verb arrange, cause, collude, compose, conceive, concoct, connive, consider, conspire, counterplot, design, develop a course, devise, draft, effect, excogitare, fabricate, fashion, forecast, form, frame, imagine, improvise, induce, intrigue,… …   Law dictionary

  • contrive — early 14c., from O.Fr. controver (Mod.Fr. controuver) to find out, contrive, imagine, from L.L. contropare to compare (via a figure of speech), from L. com with (see COM (Cf. com )) + tropus song, musical mode, from Gk. tropos figure of speech… …   Etymology dictionary

  • contrive — [v1] invent, design come up with, concoct, construct, cook up, create, devise, dream up*, engineer, fabricate, fashion, forge, form, formulate, frame*, handle, hatch, improvise, make, make up*, manipulate, manufacture, move, plan, plot, project,… …   New thesaurus

  • contrive — ► VERB 1) devise or plan using skill and artifice. 2) manage to do something foolish. DERIVATIVES contrivable adjective contriver noun. ORIGIN Old French controver imagine, invent , from Latin contropare compare …   English terms dictionary

  • contrive — [[t]kəntra͟ɪv[/t]] contrives, contriving, contrived 1) VERB If you contrive an event or situation, you succeed in making it happen, often by tricking someone. [FORMAL] [V n] The oil companies were accused of contriving a shortage of gasoline to… …   English dictionary

  • contrive — UK [kənˈtraɪv] / US verb Word forms contrive : present tense I/you/we/they contrive he/she/it contrives present participle contriving past tense contrived past participle contrived formal 1) a) [transitive] to make something happen, especially by …   English dictionary

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