Definition of contrivance - WordReference.com Dictionary

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contrivance:

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contrivance
A	noun
	1	devisal, contrivance
			the act of devising something
		Category Tree: act; human action; human activity ╚activity ╚creation; creative activity ╚creating by mental acts ╚invention ╚devisal, contrivance
	2	appliance, contraption, contrivance, convenience, gadget, gizmo, gismo, widget
			a device that is very useful for a particular job
		Category Tree: entity ╚object; physical object ╚artifact; artefact ╚instrumentality; instrumentation ╚device ╚appliance, contraption, contrivance, convenience, gadget, gizmo, gismo, widget ╚mod con ╚injector ╚gimbals ╚gadgetry
	3	lash-up, contrivance
			any improvised arrangement for temporary use
		Category Tree: group; grouping ╚arrangement ╚lash-up, contrivance ╚temporary hookup; patch
	4	contrivance
			the faculty of contriving; inventive skill; "his skillful contrivance of answers to every problem"
		Category Tree: psychological feature ╚cognition; knowledge; noesis ╚ability; power ╚creativity; creativeness; creative thinking ╚invention; innovation; excogitation; conception; design ╚contrivance
	5	contrivance
			an artificial or unnatural or obviously contrived arrangement of details or parts etc.; "the plot contained too many improbable contrivances to be believable"
		Category Tree: psychological feature ╚cognition; knowledge; noesis ╚structure ╚arrangement; organization; organisation; system ╚contrivance
	6	contrivance, stratagem, dodge
			an elaborate or deceitful scheme contrived to deceive or evade; "his testimony was just a contrivance to throw us off the track"
		Category Tree: psychological feature ╚cognition; knowledge; noesis ╚content; cognitive content; mental object ╚idea; thought ╚plan; program; programme ╚plan of action ╚scheme; strategy ╚contrivance, stratagem, dodge ╚wangle; wangling ╚pump-and-dump scheme ╚plant

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