contrive

 
Pronunciation: /kənˈtrʌɪv/

verb

[with object]
  • create or bring about (an object or a situation) by deliberate use of skill and artifice: his opponents contrived a cabinet crisis [with infinitive]: you contrived to be alone with me despite the supervision
  • [with infinitive] manage to do something foolish or create an undesirable situation: he contrived to flood the flat three times

Derivatives

contriver

noun

Origin:

Middle English: from Old French contreuve-, stressed stem of controver 'imagine, invent', from medieval Latin contropare 'compare'