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contrivance Definition

con·triv·ance (kən trī′vəns)

noun

  1. the act, way, or power of contriving
  2. something contrived, as an invention, mechanical device, or ingenious plan

contrivance Synonyms

contrivance

n.

  1. A plan, especially an ingenious plan

    expedient, stratagem, scheme, artifice; see plan 2.

  2. A mechanical device

    appliance, mechanism, gadget, invention, apparatus, gear, implement, discovery, instrument, tool, machine, engine, convenience, contraption, utensil, harness, material, tackle, equipment, creation, brainchild*, thingamajig*, thingamabob*, doohickey*, dingus*; see also device 1, equipment, tool 1.

contrivance Usage Examples

Preposition: of

gospel: And, 1. That glorious contrivance of the gospel speaks forth what a high esteem God puts upon the souls of men.

Converse of object

  • use: In general, I only use these little contrivances when I am forced to.
  • intend: The tone was produced from little square boxes with interior contrivances intended to represent the mechanism from which the human voice was derived.
  • require: Also, one suspects Jailbreak will require contrivances to exact a winner from the group.

Adjective modifier

  • ingenious: The width of the bridge was increased by an ingenious contrivance of the late David Stephenson, Esq. architect.
  • mechanical: The last item on the desktop was a mechanical contrivance.
  • mere: Odysseus was on his way to being a true contriver; we seem content to be mere contrivances.
  • various: Various Contrivances by which Orchids are Fertilized by Insects.
  • simple: With a box of tools and a few mighty simple contrivances he had made out to have a devil of a temple.
  • human: There are evils which have sported with the weakness and subdued the strength of all human contrivances to vanish them.

Noun used with modifier

  • plot: The relationship between Gigli and Ricki is given the room to develop gradually, without plot contrivances forcing them together.
  • gameplay: It's a gameplay contrivance that keeps you on a linear path through each area.