Contrivance

[f. CONTRIVE v.¹ + -ANCE; cf. OF. controvance.]

  1.  The action of contriving or ingeniously endeavoring the accomplishment of anything; the bringing to pass by planning, scheming, or stratagem; manœuvring, plotting; deceitful practice.

1647.  May, Hist. Parl., II. iv. 70. The preparations … were and yet are, in contrivance and agitation.

1769.  Burke, Observ. State of Nation, Wks. 1842, I. 121. The original weakness of human nature is still further enfeebled by art and contrivance.

1790.  Paley, Horæ Paul., ii. 11. The effect of contrivance and design.

1818.  Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), I. 346. If there should appear to be any fraud or contrivance in a settlement of this kind.

1841.  Elphinstone, Hist. Ind., II. 185. He escaped being put to death with the rest of his brothers by the contrivance of his mother.

  2.  The action of inventing or making with thought and skill; invention.

1697.  Potter, Antiq. Greece, III. ix. (1715), 82. Others attribute the first Contrivance of it [the Tyrrhenian Trumpet] to Tyrrhenus. Ibid., III. x. 91. Not easily induc’d to allow the Contrivance of any Art to other Nations.

  † 3.  Ingenious adaptation or application. Obs.

1646.  Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., I. xi. 45. So was there no naturall dependance of the event upon the signe, but an artificiall contrivance of the signe unto the event.

1667.  H. More, Div. Dial., I. vi. (1713), 13. The Contrivance of the Earth into Hills and Springs … is not all this for the best?

  4.  Adaptation of means to an end; design, intention.

1695.  Woodward, Nat. Hist. Earth, III. i. (1723), 163. Proofs of Contrivance in the Structure of the Globe.

1710.  Berkeley, Princ. Hum. Knowl., I. § 63. The works of nature, which discover so much harmony and contrivance in their make.

1785.  Reid, Int. Powers, VI. vi. The marks of good contrivance which appear in the works of God.

1834.  Penny Cycl., II. 199/1. Marks of intelligent contrivance in this particular creation with which we are acquainted.

  5.  The faculty or ability of contriving; inventive capacity.

1659.  Vulgar Errors Censured, 10. This mocking at Red Hair … calleth into question his Contrivance: For such men are his workmanship.

1734.  trans. Rollin’s Anc. Hist. (1827), I. I. i. 184. That the ancient Egyptians should have had the art and contrivance to dig even in the very quarry a canal.

1867.  Smiles, Huguenots Eng., i. (1880), 7. Such an extraordinary uniformity was considered entirely beyond the reach of human contrivance.

  † 6.  The way in which a thing has been contrived; the resulting condition, state, or quality. Obs.

1644.  Evelyn, Mem. (1857), I. 121. That which still appears most admirable is, the contrivance of the porticos, vaults, and stairs.

1664.  Power, Exp. Philos., Pref. 7. The curious Mechanism and organical Contrivance of those Minute Animals.

1712.  J. James, trans. Le Blond’s Gardening, 38. A Parterre of Embroidery of a very new Contrivance.

1799.  G. Smith, Laboratory, I. 19. The contrivance of this rocket is very pretty.

1834.  T. Medwin, Angler in Wales, I. 46. Rods with joints … each with a pin to slide into the ferule, and plugs of wood of similar contrivance, to fit afterwards into them.

  7.  An arrangement or thing in which the foregoing action or faculty is embodied; something contrived for, or employed in contriving to effect a purpose.

  a.  A plan or scheme for attaining some end; an ingenious device or expedient; an artifice, a trick.

1627–8.  Feltham, Resolves, II. xxvii. (R.). The sage sayings, the rare examples, the noble enterprises, the handsome contrivances … the motives and incitements to vertue, and the like … that must build us up to the gallantry and perfection of man.

1694.  Acct. of Sweden, 16. Iron … is grown so cheap, that it is found necessary to lessen the number of Forges; neither has that contrivance had the effect intended.

1754.  Edwards, Freed. Will, II. xi. 116. The grand Scheme and Contrivance for our Redemption.

1856.  Froude, Hist. Eng. (1858), II. vii. 136. The world … regarded the interview as a contrivance to reconcile Francis and the emperor.

1875.  Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), III. 436. The value which they set upon military stratagems and contrivances.

  † b.  A conspiracy, plot. Obs.

1689.  Luttrell, Brief Rel. (1857), I. 544. They had discovered a contrivance there, on which 3 lords … with others, are seiz’d.

1725.  De Foe, Voy. round World (1840), 28. As the contrivance was yet but two days old … they would be some days caballing.

1726.  W. R. Chetwood, Adv. Capt. R. Boyle, 208. This occasion’d many Plots and Contrivances to regain the flying Fair Ones.

  c.  A mechanical device or arrangement; sometimes applied contemptuously.

1667.  H. Oldenburg, in Phil. Trans., II. 432. Letting this contrivance fall into the Current, along the Rocks.

1797–1804.  Bewick, Brit. Birds (1847), I. 79. Various contrivances have been made both to kill and frighten them away.

1865.  [see CONSTRUCTIVE 3].

1870.  Miss Bridgman, R. Lynne, I. vi. 82. Tell Rose … to have an easy lounging-chair in place of that abominable horsehair contrivance.

1879.  J. Timbs, in Cassell’s Techn. Educ., II. 190. The ratchet-wheel and click for winding up the weight … would soon be found an indispensable contrivance.

  d.  fig. Applied to natural arrangements, or organs showing special adaptation to the performance of functions.

1664.  Power, Exp. Philos., I. 8. Nature hath also fitted it [the Butterfly’s tongue] … with that spiral or cochleary contrivance.

1796.  Morse, Amer. Geog., I. 228. This cyst of liquor [in the cuttle-fish] is certainly a most apt and curious contrivance.

1862.  Darwin, Fertil. Orchids, Introd. 1. The contrivances by which Orchids are fertilized.