Contrive

[imp. & p. p. CONTRIVED; p. pr. & vb. n. CONTRIVING.] [O. Fr. contreuver, controver, conteruver, N. Fr. controver, from con and trever, trover, truver, trouver, to find, Pr. trobar, It. trovare, from Ger. treffen, O. H. Ger. treffen, to hit upon, to find.] To form by an exercise of ingenuity; to devise; to invent; to plan. Our poet has always some beautiful design, which he first establishes, and then contrives the means which will naturally conduct him to his end. Dryden. Syn.—To invent; discover; plan; concert; project; plot; hatch.

To make devices; to plan; to scheme; to plot.

Was it you that did so oft contrive to kill him? Shak.

[Lat. conterere, contrivi, to grind, to wear away.] To wear out or away; to spend.

Three ages such as mortal men contrive. Spencer.

In traveling countries, we three have contrived Full many a year. Edwards.