CONTRIVANCE

devisal, contrivance

(noun) the act of devising something

appliance, contraption, contrivance, convenience, gadget, gizmo, gismo, widget

(noun) a device or control that is very useful for a particular job

contrivance, lash-up

(noun) any improvised arrangement for temporary use

contrivance

(noun) the faculty of contriving; inventive skill; “his skillful contrivance of answers to every problem”

contrivance

(noun) an artificial or unnatural or obviously contrived arrangement of details or parts etc.; “the plot contained too many improbable contrivances to be believable”

contrivance, stratagem, dodge

(noun) an elaborate or deceitful scheme contrived to deceive or evade; “his testimony was just a contrivance to throw us off the track”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

contrivance (plural contrivances)

a (mechanical) device to perform a certain task

a means, such as an elaborate plan or strategy, to accomplish a certain objective

something overly artful or artificial

Synonyms

• contraption

Source: Wiktionary

Con*triv"ance, n.

1. The act or faculty of contriving, inventing, devising, or planning. The machine which we are inspecting demonstrates, by its construction, contrivance and design. Contrivance must have had a contriver. Paley.

2. The thing contrived, invented, or planned; disposition of parts or causes by design; a scheme; plan; atrifice; arrangement. Government is a contrivance of human wisdom to provide for human wants. Burke.

Syn.

– Device; plan; scheme; invention; machine; project; design; artifice; shift. See Device.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition