Con‐trive″ (kŏn‐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.