con-

together, with; sometimes thoroughly

Forms

con-
com- — Used before certain consonants, especially b, p, and m.
col- — The final consonant changed before l.
cor- — The final consonant changed before r.
co- — The final consonant was lost in some combinations.

Origin

From Latin cum, “with,” and an older form com-.

Note

Togetherness could extend to completeness. Not every word containing this prefix retains an obvious “with” meaning.

84 / 108

verb

contrive

kun-TRYVE/kənˈtraɪv/

To accomplish something through inventive planning.

The teenager contrives a pulley system to water the high window plant.

An inventive East Asian teenager devises a pulley with rope and a bucket to water a high window plant.

Etymology

conLatintogether, with; sometimes thoroughly

+triveGreekturn, way, or manner

“Together” and “figure of speech” underlie an ancestor meaning to compare through figurative language. The later sense of ingenious invention connects this ancestry to devising a plan or managing something by a scheme.

In context

Libranima19:28

If you mention any giant in your book contrive that it shall be the giant Goliath, and with this alone, which will cost you almost nothing, you have a grand note

Don Quixote - Cervantes (Illustrated Audiobook) Part 1 of 4

More examples

They contrived to feed six guests with just a few ingredients.
He contrives an excuse to leave the meeting early.
By sharing rides, we contrive to keep our travel costs down.

Forms

contrive · contrives · contrived · contriving

contrivance noun — A device or plan cleverly devised.

Similar words

devise: Focuses on inventing a plan rather than carrying it out.
engineer: Emphasizes skillfully arranging a result, sometimes through manipulation.
manage: Emphasizes success despite difficulty, not necessarily through inventive planning.