CONTRIVE

verb (~d; contriving) Etymology: Middle English controven, contreven, from Anglo-French controver, contrever, from Medieval Latin contropare to compare, from Latin com- + Vulgar Latin *tropare to compose, find — more at troubador Date: 14th century transitive verb 1. devise , plan , to form or create in an artistic or ingenious manner , to bring about by stratagem or with difficulty ; manage , intransitive verb to make schemes, ~r noun