different between contrivance vs paraphernalia

English

Etymology

contrive +? -ance

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /k?n?t?a?.v?ns/

Noun

contrivance (plural contrivances)

1. a (mechanical) device to perform a certain task
2. a means, such as an elaborate plan or strategy, to accomplish a certain objective
   • 2005, Plato, Sophist. Translation by Lesley Brown. 266b.

     And along with each of these go their images, not the things themselves, — they too have come about by godlike contrivance.

3. something overly artful or artificial

Synonyms

• contraption

Related terms

• contrive

Translations

Further reading

• contrivance in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• contrivance in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

English

Etymology

A loan from Ancient Greek ????????? (parápherna, “goods which a wife brings over and above her dowry”), a compound of ???? (pará, “beside”) +? ????? (phern?, “dowry”), i.e. “things additional to a dowry”. In the propertied classes, a dowry was placed under the control of the husband, while the paraphernalia which she brought with her remained the wife’s property.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?pæ??f??ne?li.?/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?p???f??ne?li.?/, /?p???f??ne?li.?/
• Rhymes: -e?li?
• Hyphenation: par?a?pher?na?lia

Noun

paraphernalia pl (plural only)

1. Miscellaneous items, especially the set of equipment required for a particular activity.

   Synonym: stuff
2. (archaic, family law) Things a married woman owns, such as clothing and jewellery, apart from her dowry.

   Synonym: parapherna

Translations

Further reading

• paraphernalia on Wikipedia.Wikipedia