Literary notes about Contrivance (AI summary)
The term “contrivance” in literature is used with remarkable versatility to denote both literal and metaphorical devices. At times it describes tangible, ingenious inventions—like a mechanism for extracting dye from wood ([1]), mechanical apparatuses that inspire awe or serve practical ends ([2], [3]), or even contraptions designed to trap or deceive ([4], [5]). In other instances, it marks abstract human schemes or artful stratagems, capturing devious plots or clever reconciliations ([6], [7], [8]). This dual application highlights not only the marvel of human ingenuity but also hints at a critical perspective on artifice and manipulation, whether in technology, politics, or social dynamics.
- Aerostatic Press, a contrivance for extracting the colouring matter from dye-woods and for similar purposes.
— from The New Gresham Encyclopedia. A to Amide by Various - [39] This ingenious contrivance keeps the leverage of the rim constant
— from How it Works by Archibald Williams - In the former is a contrivance for regulating the petrol supply.
— from How it Works by Archibald Williams - a bait or contrivance for entrapping; fraud, deceit, insidious artifice, guile, Mat. 26.4.
— from A Greek-English Lexicon to the New Testament by William Greenfield - The premeditated human contrivance of the nose-ring was too cunning for impulsive brute force, and the creature flinched.
— from The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy - For this contrivance is too considerable a piece of villainy to be undertaken by one of thy age.
— from Antiquities of the Jews by Flavius Josephus - When parties in a state are violent, he offered a wonderful contrivance to reconcile them.
— from Gulliver's Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World by Jonathan Swift - Let us therefore freely, and without fear or prejudice, examine this last contrivance of policy.
— from The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, Vol. 01 (of 12) by Edmund Burke
