contrivance
gb/kəntɹˈaɪvəns/ us/kəntɹˈaɪvəns/
C1
Inglese
~ 9200
Accezioni
0 accezioni
Sostantivo
C1
entity
1
clever device or gadget
A machine or tool that someone has made, usually in a clever or special way, to do a particular job.
Schema d'uso:
a contrivance for [verb+ing] [something]
Errore comune:
Learners sometimes confuse "contrivance" with "convenience" because they look similar. A contrivance is the device or tool itself, while convenience is the state of being easy or comfortable.
Sinonimi
device (Most general and common; does not suggest being especially clever or unusual unless modified.)
|
gadget (Often smaller and more informal, sometimes with a slightly playful tone.)
Contrari
natural object (Contrasts a man-made, designed device with something that occurs naturally.)
Collocazioni
clever contrivance
|mechanical contrivance
|ingenious contrivance
|a little contrivance
|a contrivance for opening [something]
|complex contrivance
Temi
technology
|daily_life
|science
Esempi
- The kitchen is full of modern contrivances to make cooking easier.
- He showed me a simple contrivance for lifting water from the well.
- The lock is opened by a curious contrivance hidden inside the door.
- This folding bed is a neat contrivance that saves a lot of space.
- Early cameras were heavy contrivances that had to be carried on a tripod.
Esempi per chi studia
- She built a small contrivance to water the plants.
- This contrivance lets you open the window from your bed.
- The old man made a wooden contrivance to fix his broken chair.
- My brother loves making strange contrivances in the garage.
- The shop sells many kitchen contrivances for home cooks.
Sostantivo
formal
C1
entity
2
clever, often artificial plan
A special plan or way of doing something, made with a lot of thought, sometimes in a fake or not completely honest way.
Schema d'uso:
a contrivance to [verb] [something]
Errore comune:
Learners may use "contrivance" when they only mean a normal plan. "Contrivance" usually suggests something unusually clever, artificial, or possibly dishonest, not just any plan or idea.
Sinonimi
scheme (Often suggests secret or dishonest planning more strongly than "contrivance".)
|
device (In formal writing, can also mean a planned method; slightly broader and more neutral in tone.)
|
artifice (Stresses trickery and deception more than careful arrangement.)
Contrari
straightforwardness (Lack of hidden planning or artificial methods; everything is open and simple.)
Collocazioni
legal contrivance
|ingenious contrivance
|political contrivance
|through some contrivance
|an obvious contrivance
|a contrivance to avoid [something]
Temi
politics
|law
|communication
|daily_life
|work
Esempi
- The tax break is a legal contrivance that mainly benefits large corporations.
- By some clever contrivance, he managed to delay the vote for another year.
- The committee saw the proposal as a political contrivance to gain more power.
- Her apology felt like a contrivance to avoid taking real responsibility.
- The new rule is a contrivance to keep smaller competitors out of the market.
Esempi per chi studia
- The offer was just a contrivance to get more money from customers.
- They used a legal contrivance to pay less tax.
- His story seemed like a contrivance, not the truth.
- The plan was a clever contrivance to win the game.
- This rule is a contrivance to stop new people from joining.
Sostantivo
formal
C1
entity
3
artificial device in a story
A part of a story or argument that feels made up only to make something happen, not because it is natural or real.
Schema d'uso:
a [adjective] contrivance in the plot
Errore comune:
Learners sometimes think "contrivance" in this sense is positive, meaning simply "clever." While it can be neutral, it often suggests that something feels fake or is too neatly arranged.
Sinonimi
plot device (Neutral term for anything used to move a plot forward; does not itself suggest being forced or unbelievable.)
|
gimmick (More informal and critical, suggesting a cheap or showy trick.)
Contrari
organic development (Describes a story element that grows naturally from characters and events, not something obviously forced.)
Collocazioni
narrative contrivance
|plot contrivance
|dramatic contrivance
|clumsy contrivance
|an obvious contrivance
|mere contrivance
Temi
literature
|media
|arts_entertainment
|communication
Esempi
- The long-lost twin is such a tired contrivance in soap operas.
- Critics attacked the ending as a clumsy contrivance designed to please the audience.
- Her illness felt like a narrative contrivance rather than a believable event.
- The flashback sequence is a clever contrivance to explain his motivations.
- The coincidence that brings all the characters together is a clear contrivance.
Esempi per chi studia
- The happy ending felt like a contrivance.
- The surprise meeting in the movie was an obvious contrivance.
- That part of the story is just a contrivance to make us cry.
- The writer used a contrivance to bring the two lovers back together.
- Many viewers thought the death scene was a plot contrivance.
Sostantivo
formal
C2
property
4
ingenuity or skill in planning
The skill of thinking in a clever way to make or plan something.
Errore comune:
This sense is less common, and learners may overuse it instead of more natural words like "ingenuity" or "creativity". In modern English, those alternatives are usually better choices.
Sinonimi
ingenuity (Very close in meaning; slightly more common and often more positive.)
|
resourcefulness (Focuses more on solving practical problems with limited means.)
Contrari
incompetence (Lack of the skill needed to plan or invent things successfully.)
Collocazioni
human contrivance
|with much contrivance
|by contrivance and effort
|resource and contrivance
Temi
personality
|work
|core_vocabulary
|education
Esempi
- With patience and contrivance, they turned the small room into a comfortable office.
- The project was completed more by human contrivance than by modern technology.
- Only great effort and contrivance allowed them to stay within budget.
- Through sheer contrivance he balanced work, study, and family life.
- The survivors relied on their own contrivance to find food and water.
Esempi per chi studia
- With much contrivance, they finished the job on time.
- They used their own contrivance to live in the small space.
- By hard work and contrivance, she passed the exam.
- Human contrivance can solve many problems.
- They survived by contrivance and courage.
Grammatica
Forma base
contrivance
IPA
GB/kəntɹˈaɪvəns/
US/kəntɹˈaɪvəns/
Sillabe e accento
con - triv - ance (3 sillabe)
Stress on 2nd syllable (triv)
Forme flesse
Noun
- Base: contrivance
- Plural: contrivance, contrivances
Famiglia di parole
Forms
contrivances
noun
Core family
contrive
verb C1
contrived
adjective
Negative and opposite forms
uncontrived
adjective
Advanced or less common
contriver
noun
Espressioni
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