contrive

contrive
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" (see TROPE (Cf. trope)). Sense evolution (in French) was from "invent with ingenuity" to "invent falsely." Spelled contreve until unexplained 15c. sound change that also affected briar, friar, choir. Related: Contrived; contriving.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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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 — [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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