From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
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 of ingenuity; to devise; to invent; to
design; to plan.
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What more likely to contrive this admirable frame of
the universe than infinite wisdom. --Tillotson.
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neither do thou imagine that I shall contrive aught
against his life. --Hawthorne.
Syn: To invent; discover; plan; design; project; plot;
concert; hatch.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Contrive \Con*trive"\, v. i.
To make devices; to form designs; to plan; to scheme; to
plot.
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The Fates with traitors do contrive. --Shak.
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Thou hast contrived against th very life
Of the defendant. --Shak.
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