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CONTRIVANCE
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I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
The act of devising something
Synonyms:
contrivance; devisal
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Hypernyms ("contrivance" is a kind of...):
invention (the act of inventing)
Derivation:
contrive (come up with (an idea, plan, explanation, theory, or principle) after a mental effort)
Sense 2
Meaning:
A device or control that is very useful for a particular job
Synonyms:
appliance; contraption; contrivance; convenience; gadget; gismo; gizmo; widget
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Hypernyms ("contrivance" is a kind of...):
device (an instrumentality invented for a particular purpose)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "contrivance"):
gadgetry (appliances collectively)
gimbal (an appliance that allows an object (such as a ship's compass) to remain horizontal even as its support tips)
injector (a contrivance for injecting (e.g., water into the boiler of a steam engine or particles into an accelerator etc.))
mod con (modern convenience; the appliances and conveniences characteristic of a modern house)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Any improvised arrangement for temporary use
Synonyms:
contrivance; lash-up
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Hypernyms ("contrivance" is a kind of...):
arrangement (an orderly grouping (of things or persons) considered as a unit; the result of arranging)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "contrivance"):
patch; temporary hookup (a connection intended to be used for a limited time)
Sense 4
Meaning:
The faculty of contriving; inventive skill
Example:
his skillful contrivance of answers to every problem
Classified under:
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents
Hypernyms ("contrivance" is a kind of...):
conception; design; excogitation; innovation; invention (the creation of something in the mind)
Sense 5
Meaning:
An artificial or unnatural or obviously contrived arrangement of details or parts etc.
Example:
the plot contained too many improbable contrivances to be believable
Classified under:
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents
Hypernyms ("contrivance" is a kind of...):
arrangement; organisation; organization; system (an organized structure for arranging or classifying)
Sense 6
Meaning:
An elaborate or deceitful scheme contrived to deceive or evade
Example:
his testimony was just a contrivance to throw us off the track
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents
Hypernyms ("contrivance" is a kind of...):
scheme; strategy (an elaborate and systematic plan of action)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "contrivance"):
plant (something planted secretly for discovery by another)
pump-and-dump scheme (an illegal scheme for making money by manipulating stock prices; the schemer persuades other people to buy the stock and then sells it himself as soon as the price of the stock rises)
wangle; wangling (an instance of accomplishing something by scheming or trickery)
Context examples:
“It does very well, it seems, though I am not versed in things nautical,” she said, nodding her head with grave approval at my steering contrivance.
(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)
Three hundred tailors were employed in the same manner to make me clothes; but they had another contrivance for taking my measure.
(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)
“And this,” said she, “is the end of all his friend's anxious circumspection! of all his sister's falsehood and contrivance! the happiest, wisest, most reasonable end!”
(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)
He wished the road might be impassable, that he might be able to keep them all at Randalls; and with the utmost good-will was sure that accommodation might be found for every body, calling on his wife to agree with him, that with a little contrivance, every body might be lodged, which she hardly knew how to do, from the consciousness of there being but two spare rooms in the house.
(Emma, by Jane Austen)
Her days were spent in a kind of slow bustle; all was busy without getting on, always behindhand and lamenting it, without altering her ways; wishing to be an economist, without contrivance or regularity; dissatisfied with her servants, without skill to make them better, and whether helping, or reprimanding, or indulging them, without any power of engaging their respect.
(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)
It is a very little world, a mote, a speck, and I marvel that men should dare to venture the sea on a contrivance so small and fragile.
(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)
Every one knew how laborious the usual method is of attaining to arts and sciences; whereas, by his contrivance, the most ignorant person, at a reasonable charge, and with a little bodily labour, might write books in philosophy, poetry, politics, laws, mathematics, and theology, without the least assistance from genius or study.
(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)
As soon as all had ate, and the elder ones paid, the carriage was ordered; and after some contrivance, the whole party, with all their boxes, work-bags, and parcels, and the unwelcome addition of Kitty's and Lydia's purchases, were seated in it.
(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)
The next bustle brought in Mr. Campbell, the surgeon of the Thrush, a very well-behaved young man, who came to call for his friend, and for whom there was with some contrivance found a chair, and with some hasty washing of the young tea-maker's, a cup and saucer; and after another quarter of an hour of earnest talk between the gentlemen, noise rising upon noise, and bustle upon bustle, men and boys at last all in motion together, the moment came for setting off; everything was ready, William took leave, and all of them were gone; for the three boys, in spite of their mother's entreaty, determined to see their brother and Mr. Campbell to the sally-port; and Mr. Price walked off at the same time to carry back his neighbour's newspaper.
(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)
That tiny men should live and breathe and work, and drive so frail a contrivance of wood and cloth through so tremendous an elemental strife.
(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)
