con·trive / kənˈtrīv/ • v. [tr.] create or bring about (an object or a situation) by deliberate use of skill and artifice: his opponents contrived a crisis. ∎  manage to do something foolish or create an undesirable situation: the poor guy contrived to hang himself.DERIVATIVES: con·triv·a·ble adj.con·triv·er n.

contrive XIV. ME. controve, contreve — OF. controver (mod. controuver) †imagine — medL. contropāre compare, prob. f. L. CON- + tropus TROPE. The transition to contrive (XV) is unexpl.
Hence contrivance XVII.