contrivance

[ kuh n-trahy-vuh ns ]

/ kənˈtraɪ vəns /

something contrived; a device, especially a mechanical one.

the act or manner of contriving; the faculty or power of contriving.

a plan or scheme; expedient.

Origin of contrivance

First recorded in 1620–30; contrive + -ance

non·con·triv·ance, noun pre·con·triv·ance, noun

The endless succession of quotation marks is its own contrivance, a scrim between Shields and the world.

Is Fiction Worthless? David Shields Think So |Jacob Silverman |February 8, 2013 |DAILY BEAST
Contrivance and expedient presented themselves,—all inadequate to the emergency.

Alone |Marion Harland
This instrument was improved and it gave rise to the contrivance of many delicate surgical instruments for operating on the eye.

Inventions in the Century |William Henry Doolittle
The contrivance is a very simple one, though it was no doubt the result of anxious and patient thought.

Knowledge is Power: |Charles Knight

If the Greeks are using some contrivance that handles an affair like this, it will be top secret.

The Invaders |William Fitzgerald Jenkins
But nothing came of the contrivance, and it was eventually thrown aside as useless.

Lives of the Engineers |Samuel Smiles

contrivance

/ (kənˈtraɪvəns) /

something contrived, esp an ingenious device; contraption

the act or faculty of devising or adapting; inventive skill or ability

an artificial rather than natural selection or arrangement of details, parts, etc

an elaborate or deceitful plan or expedient; stratagem