The Collaborative International Dictionary
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.
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.
Wiktionary
n. The act of one who contrives. vb. (present participle of contrive English)
Usage examples of "contriving".
I had no real power: I did not even manage to obtain an audience for the influential members of the Sanhedrin of Antioch, who were as fearful as we of the surprise moves of the Jewish agitators, and who would have enlightened Trajan as to the contrivings of their fellow Jews.