Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CON-TRIVE', v.t. [Fr. controuver; con and trouver, to find; It. controvare.]

1. To invent; to devise; to plan. Our poet has always some beautiful design, which he first establishes, and then contrives the means which will naturally conduct him to his end. – Dryden.
2. To wear out. [Obs.] – Spenser. [This must be from the L. contero, contrivi, and if the French controuver, and Italian controvare, are the same word differently applied, the primary sense is, to invent by rubbing, that is, by ruminating; or to strike out, as in forge. But the word is probably from trouver, to find.]