From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishcontrivecon‧trive /kənˈtraɪv/ verb [transitive] 1 formalSUCCEED IN DOING something to succeed in doing something in spite of difficultiescontrive to do something Schindler contrived to save more than 1,000 Polish Jews from the Nazis.2 ARRANGE A MEETING, EVENT ETCto arrange an event or situation in a clever way, especially secretly or by deceiving people The lawsuit says oil companies contrived the oil shortage in the 1970s.3 MAKEto make or invent something in a skilful way, especially because you need it suddenly In 1862, a technique was contrived to take a series of photographs showing stages of movement.→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
contrive• They spoke of trading and contriving.• The lawsuit says oil companies contrived a gasoline shortage in the early 1970s.• He contrived a meeting between his mother and her ex- husband.• Richter contrived a scale to measure the force of an earthquake.• In the play Amos contrives a scheme to make Paul pay back the money he owes him.• They can not be urgent if they must be contrived for him.• In as tactful a way as she could contrive she asked Shildon to hurry up with what he wanted to say.• Fortunately this morning Rose had contrived to rid himself of Naseby's services.contrive to do something• But in spite or all that, Naples contrives to be wonderful, in the real sense of that overworked word.• Or has he contrived to bring you out - given you an in-tray and an out?• Parmenter would contrive to get document blanks from the Records Branch.• The chef contrives to keep the fresh taste of the vegetables.• I by contrast contrived to leave my grammar school in the Midlands without A levels.• It sounds contrived to me, Holmes.• But Ember contrived to nudge her reassuringly and a gravity-shift bounced her high and maybe it was all possible after all.• Mr Clark and Mr Chrétien may indeed contrive to rebuild national unity on a new set of compromises.• Visiting Buffalo, he contrived to see her but again did not express his feelings for her.Origin contrive (1200-1300) Old French controver, from Late Latin contropare 