contrive: [14] In Middle English, contrive was controve; it was not transformed into contrive (perhaps under the influence of Scottish pronunciation) until the 15th century. It came via Old French controver from Latin contropāre ‘represent metaphorically, compare’, a compound verb based on the prefix com- ‘too’ and tropus ‘figure of speech’ (source of English trope). The word’s meaning has progressed through ‘compare via a figure of speech’ and Old French ‘imagine’ to ‘devise’. => trope
contrive (v.)
early 14c., from Old French controver (Modern French controuver) "to find out, contrive, imagine," from Late Latin contropare "to compare" (via a figure of speech), from Latin com- "with" (see com-) + tropus "song, musical mode," from Greek tropos "figure of speech" (see trope).
Sense evolution (in French) was from "invent with ingenuity" to "invent falsely." Spelled contreve until unexplained 15c. sound change that also affected briar, friar, choir. Related: Contrived; contriving.
实用例句
1. Can you contrive to be here a little earlier?
你能不能早一点来?来自《简明英汉词典》
2. How could you contrive to make such a mess of things?
你怎么把事情弄得一团糟 呢 ?来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
3. She found it difficult to contrive when prices of everything went up.
百物涨价时,她觉得料理家务很难.来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
4. They, having first persuaded themselves, contrive to influence their neighbours.
