(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
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English (GCIDE) v.0.53 Collaborative International Dictionary (GCIDE)
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.