n. 1. The act or faculty of contriving, inventing, devising, or planning. [ 1913 Webster ]
The machine which we are inspecting demonstrates, by its construction, contrivance and design. Contrivance must have had a contriver. Paley. [ 1913 Webster ]
2. The thing contrived, invented, or planned; disposition of parts or causes by design; a scheme; plan; artifice; arrangement. [ 1913 Webster ]
Government is a contrivance of human wisdom to provide for human wants. Burke.