Pronunciation: [kəntɹˈa͡ɪvəns] (IPA) 
The word "contrivance" is spelled with 3 syllables, /kənˈtraɪvəns/. The first syllable, "con," is pronounced with a short "o" sound, followed by a stressed "tr" sound. The second syllable, "i," is pronounced with a long "i" sound. The third syllable, "vance," is pronounced with a short "a" sound and a soft "s" ending. "Contrivance" refers to something that is created or designed with effort, often in a clever or inventive way.
Contrivance is a noun that refers to the act or process of contriving, inventing, or devising something, typically through careful thought and planning. It involves using one's ingenuity or cunning to create or design a solution, usually to overcome a problem or to achieve a desired result.
In a literal sense, contrivance can also refer to a mechanical device or mechanism, especially one that has been cleverly or skillfully made. It often implies the use of craft or artifice to construct an object that serves a specific purpose or solves a particular problem.
The term is also used to describe a plan or scheme that is devised and implemented with deliberate intent to achieve an objective. It may involve strategic maneuvers or manipulations to accomplish a particular goal, often with a certain level of inventiveness or resourcefulness.
Furthermore, contrivance can be used in a pejorative sense to imply the artificiality or forced nature of something, suggesting that it is contrived or fabricated rather than genuine or natural.
Overall, contrivance encompasses the ideas of invention, design, ingenuity, and scheming, and is often associated with the creative introduction of a carefully planned solution, device, or plot to achieve a specific objective.
The act of planning or devising; the thing planned or devised; a scheme.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
The word "contrivance" originated from the Old French word "contrever", which meant "to find out" or "to contrive". It ultimately derived from the Latin word "contra" meaning "against" and "vertere" meaning "to turn". The word gradually evolved in English, retaining its meaning of inventing or planning something clever or resourceful.
