contrivance

English

Etymology

contrive +‎ -ance

Pronunciation

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Noun

contrivance (plural contrivances)

1. a (mechanical) device to perform a certain task
2. a means, such as an elaborate plan or strategy, to accomplish a certain objective
   • 2005, Plato, Sophist. Translation by Lesley Brown. 266b.

     And along with each of these go their images, not the things themselves, — they too have come about by godlike contrivance.

3. something overly artful or artificial

Usage notes

See usage note at device.

Related terms

• contrive

Translations

(mechanical) device to perform a certain task

Bulgarian: приспособление (bg) n. French: appareil (fr) m., dispositif (fr) m. German: Vorrichtung (de) f.

Russian: устройство (ru) n., приспособление (ru) n.

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

Bulgarian: средство (bg) n., способ (bg) m. German: Vorrichtung (de) f., Erfindung (de) f.

Portuguese: artifício (pt) m. Russian: затея (ru) f., план (ru) m., выдумка (ru) f.

something overly artful or artificial

Bulgarian: хитрина (bg) f., похват (bg) m.

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.

Translations to be checked

Portuguese: artifício (pt) m.

External links

• contrivance in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• contrivance in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911