(n) an elaborate or deceitful scheme contrived to deceive or evade, Syn. stratagem, dodge, Example:his testimony was just a contrivance to throw us off the track
(n) an artificial or unnatural or obviously contrived arrangement of details or parts etc., Example:the plot contained too many improbable contrivances to be believable
n. 1. The act or faculty of contriving, inventing, devising, or planning. [ 1913 Webster ]
The machine which we are inspecting demonstrates, by its construction, contrivance and design. Contrivance must have had a contriver. Paley. [ 1913 Webster ]
2. The thing contrived, invented, or planned; disposition of parts or causes by design; a scheme; plan; artifice; arrangement. [ 1913 Webster ]
Government is a contrivance of human wisdom to provide for human wants. Burke.