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1. Make or work out a plan for; devise
   "They contrived to murder their boss";
   - plan, project, design
    
2. Come up with (an idea, plan, explanation, theory, or principle) after a mental effort
   "contrive a way to measure the speed of light";
   - invent, devise, excogitate, formulate, forge
    
3. Put or send forth
   "contrive a spell";
   - project, cast, throw

Derived forms: contrived, contriving, contrives

Type of: create by mental act, create mentally, direct, send

Encyclopedia: Contrive