contrivance
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contrivance
- /kənˈtɹaɪ.vəns/
noun contrivances
-
A (mechanical) device to perform a certain task.
Similar: contraption
- A means, such as an elaborate plan or strategy, to accomplish a certain objective. I mean to give something as slight and inexpensive as possible; but I have been so long out of the way of these things, that I am really quite at a loss, and must throw myself on your kindness, as I hope you will be with me, and also Mr. and Mrs. Gooch. You must arrange in such a manner as not to bl
- Something overly artful or artificial. When the stamens of a flower suddenly spring towards the pistil, or slowly move one after the other towards it, the contrivance seems adapted solely to ensure self-fertilisation; and no doubt it is useful for this end: but, the agency of insects is often required to cause the stamens to spring forwa
-
The making of cunning or deceitful plans
Similar: scheming, engineering
Translations
Every language
noun (mechanical) device to perform a certain task
| Español | aparato |
|---|---|
| 中文 | 玩意兒 /玩意儿 wányìr |
| Português | aparelho |
| Français | appareil, dispositif |
| Deutsch | Vorrichtung, Maschinerie, Apparat, Behelf |
| Italiano | aggeggio, marchingegno |
| Română | aparat, dispozitiv |
| Русский | устро́йство ustrójstvo, приспособле́ние prisposoblénije |
noun elaborate means to accomplish an objective
| Español | artificio, artimaña, estratagema, elucubración |
|---|---|
| Português | artifício, artimanha |
| Français | stratagème |
| Deutsch | Vorrichtung, Erfindung, Plan, Kniff, List, Kunstgriff |
| Italiano | stratagemma, artefizio, espediente, accorgimento, sotterfugio |
| Русский | зате́я zatéja, план plan, вы́думка výdumka |
noun something overly artful or artificial
| Español | artefacto, artilugio, elucubración |
|---|---|
| Deutsch | Konstrukt |
| Italiano | catorcio, trabiccolo, carretta |
| Русский | ухищре́ние uxiščrénije, ухва́тка uxvátka |
Talk about this word "contrivance." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/contrivance. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. contrivance. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/contrivance "contrivance." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/contrivance.Cite this
@misc{contrivance_2026,
title = {contrivance},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/contrivance},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
