#1 contrive v. [plan, project, design] make or work out a plan for; devise; "They contrived to murder their boss"; "design a new sales strategy"; "plan an attack". wn
#2 contrive v. [invent, devise, excogitate, formulate, forge] come up with (an idea, plan, explanation, theory, or principle) after a mental effort; "excogitate a way to measure the speed of light". wn
#3 contrive v. [project, cast, throw] put or send forth; "She threw the flashlight beam into the corner"; "The setting sun threw long shadows"; "cast a spell"; "cast a warm light". wn
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