Also 4–6 controving. [f. CONTRIVE v.1 + -ING1.] The action of the verb CONTRIVE; contrivance; devising.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 255. Or þat fals controueyng gaf þei jugement.
1393. Gower, Conf., III. 81. Of his owne controvinge He found magique and taught it forth.
1583. Stubbes, Anat. Abus., Ep. Ded. (1877), 6. I haue taken vpon me the contryuing of this book.
1751. Labelye, Westm. Br., 107. Methods of my own contriving.
1858. Longf., Birds of Passage, Children, ix. What are all our contrivings, And the wisdom of our books?
