Con*triv"a*ble (?), a. Capable of being contrived, planned, invented, or devised.
A perpetual motion may seem easily contrivable.
Bp. Wilkins.
Con*triv"ance (?), n. 1. 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.
Paley.
2. 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.
Burke.
Syn. -- Device; plan; scheme; invention; machine; project; design; artifice; shift. See Device.
Con*trive" (k&obreve;n*trīv"), 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.
What more likely to contrive this admirable frame of the universe than infinite wisdom.
Tillotson.
neither do thou imagine that I shall contrive aught against his life.
Hawthorne.
Syn. -- To invent; discover; plan; design; project; plot; concert; hatch.
Con*trive", v. i. To make devices; to form designs; to plan; to scheme; to plot.
The Fates with traitors do contrive.
Shak.
Thou hast contrived against th very life
Of the defendant.
Shak.