contrivance

Pronunciation: /kənˈtɹaɪ.vəns/

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C1 — Advanced

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a device or control that is very useful for a particular job
  2. noun the faculty of contriving; inventive skill
  3. noun an elaborate or deceitful scheme contrived to deceive or evade

Etymology

From contrive + -ance.

In classic literature

Synonyms

appliance, contraption, convenience, gadget, gizmo, gismo, widget

Semantic network

Broader (hypernyms)
device
Narrower (hyponyms)
gadgetry, injector, gimbal, mod con

A single word — an entire dictionary opens.

Type a word, a sentence, a book title, or a link to an English article. WordNet and the Classics answer.

Try

A library of classics · a vault of words · instant etymology & meaning

Continue reading

Nice save! Solidify it with review →