CONTRIVANCE • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of Contrivance

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/kəntrˈaɪvəns/ Listen

noun

Contrivance n.

The act or faculty of contriving, inventing, devising, or planning. "The machine which we are inspecting demonstrates, by its construction, contrivance and design. Contrivance must have had a contriver."

The thing contrived, invented, or planned; disposition of parts or causes by design; a scheme; plan; artifice; arrangement. "Government is a contrivance of human wisdom to provide for human wants."

Synonyms: Device; plan; scheme; invention; machine; project; design; artifice; shift. See Device.

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Etymology of 'Contrivance'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Contrivance" Quotes from Famous Books

... period the ingenuity of man came to woman's rescue, by the invention of an interesting, and, judging by its popularity, exceedingly serviceable contrivance known as a dress elevator, which enabled ladies to instantly elevate their enormous trains when they came to a ...

— The Arena - Volume 4, No. 22, September, 1891 • Various

... contrivance," Harry said when they took their seats on the buffalo robes round the fire and looked up admiringly at their work. "The logs will get as dry as chips, and in future we sha'n't be bothered with the smoke. Besides, it will do to stand the pail and pots full of snow there, and keep a supply of water, ...

— In The Heart Of The Rockies • G. A. Henty

... shall find that useful, ma'am"; or "Mr. Macartney will be asking for that in Norway." As for James, it had changed his spots, if not his nature. James bought marvellous climbing boots, binoculars, compasses of dodgy contrivance, sandwich-cases, drinking-flasks, a knowing hat. He read about Norway, studied a dictionary, and ended by talking about it, and all to do with it, without any pragmatism. Lucy found out how he relied upon Urquhart and sometimes forgot that he was jealous of him. Jealous he was, ...

— Love and Lucy • Maurice Henry Hewlett

... force, whether turned to practical uses or not. For years the subject remained an alluring one which led many a scientist into experiments without number. In various parts of the world men played with the idea and wrote about it; but no one actually produced any practical steam contrivance until 1650, when the second Marquis of Worcester constructed a steam fountain that could force the water from the moat around his castle as high as the top of one of the towers. The feat was looked upon as a marvel and afterward ...

— Steve and the Steam Engine • Sara Ware Bassett

... was fine; and after much contrivance, we succeeded in taking with us whatever was essential to our future security, and the whole of the provisions except two casks or flour. The horses were, however, very heavily laden, carrying at least three hundred and fifty pounds each; a weight which I was fearful the ...

— Journals of Two Expeditions into the Interior of New South Wales • John Oxley

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