[con.trive] vb con.trived ; con.triv.ing [ME controven, contreven, fr. MF controver, fr. ML contropare to compare, fr. L com- + (assumed) VL tropare to compose, find--more at troubador] vt (14c) 1 a: devise, plan "~ ways of handling the situation" b: to form or create in an artistic or ingenious manner "contrived household utensils from stone"
2: to bring about by stratagem or with difficulty: manage ~ vi: to make schemes -- con.triv.er n