The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Contrive \Con*trive"\ (k[o^]n*tr[imac]v"), v. t. [imp. & p. p.
   Contrived; p. pr. & vb. n. Contriving.] [OE. contriven,
   contreven, controven, to invent, OF. controver, contruver;
   con- + trouver to find. See Troubadour, trover.]
   To form by an exercise of ingenuity; to devise; to invent; to
   design; to plan.
   [1913 Webster]

         What more likely to contrive this admirable frame of
         the universe than infinite wisdom.       --Tillotson.
   [1913 Webster]

         neither do thou imagine that I shall contrive aught
         against his life.                        --Hawthorne.

   Syn: To invent; discover; plan; design; project; plot;
        concert; hatch.
        [1913 Webster]