contrivance

C2+ Topic:Tools, Machines & Construction

US /kənˈtraɪvəns/ UK /kənˈtraɪvəns/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

noun
a cleverly made device or scheme; an artificial or strained arrangement

The plot relied on an implausible contrivance to reunite the lovers.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a cleverly made device or... device gadget apparatus mechanism scheme invention stratagem artifice

Word family

Related forms contrive contriver contrived

Etymology

From the verb contrive (from Old French controver / contreuver 'to invent, imagine', of disputed origin, perhaps from Late Latin contropare 'to compare') plus the suffix -ance.

controver Old French

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Tools, Machines & Construction

External links

# contrivance

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /kənˈtraɪvəns/
**IPA (UK):** /kənˈtraɪvəns/

## Meanings
1. a cleverly made device or scheme; an artificial or strained arrangement

## Examples
- The plot relied on an implausible contrivance to reunite the lovers.

## Synonyms
- device
- gadget
- apparatus
- mechanism
- scheme
- invention
- stratagem
- artifice

## Related Forms
- contrive
- contriver
- contrived

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: controver

## Etymology
From the verb contrive (from Old French controver / contreuver 'to invent, imagine', of disputed origin, perhaps from Late Latin contropare 'to compare') plus the suffix -ance.

## AI Etymology
Contrivance is from the verb contrive (from Old French controver / contreuver 'to invent, imagine', of disputed origin, perhaps from Late Latin contropare 'to compare') plus the suffix -ance. In present-day use, it means a cleverly made device or scheme; an artificial or strained arrangement. Related vocabulary includes contrive, contriver, and contrived.

## Topics
- Tools, Machines & Construction

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