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contrive. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
contrive, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
contrive in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
contrive you have here. The definition of the word
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contrive, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
From Middle English contreve (“to invent”), from Old French controver (Modern French controuver), from trover (“to find”) (French trouver).
Pronunciation
Verb
contrive (third-person singular simple present contrives, present participle contriving, simple past and past participle contrived)
- To invent by an exercise of ingenuity; to devise
- Synonyms: plan, scheme, plot, hatch
1813 January 27, [Jane Austen], Pride and Prejudice: , volumes (please specify |volume=I to III), London: for T Egerton, , →OCLC:[…] I cannot bear the idea of two young women traveling post by themselves. It is highly improper. You must contrive to send somebody.
1850, Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter:Neither do thou imagine that I shall contrive aught against his life.
- To invent, to make devices; to form designs especially by improvisation.
- To project, cast, or set forth, as in a projection of light.
- (obsolete, transitive) To spend (time, or a period).
Synonyms
Derived terms
Translations
To project, cast, or set forth, as in a projection of light
Anagrams