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nation of transparent and opaque painting, and of transmitted and reflected light, and by contrivances such as screens and shutters, much diversity of scenic effect is produced.

Any mechanical contrivance intended to remedy a difficulty or serve some purpose in an exigency; as, the doctor of a calico- printing machine, which is a knife to remove superfluous coloring matter; the doctor, or auxiliary engine, called also donkey engine.

A contrivance, turning on a vertical axis by a handle or winch, and giving a circular motion to the ore to be washed; a stirrer.

ose the drama with the day; Time's noblest offspring is the last. Berkeley. The drama and contrivances of God's providence. Sharp.

A contrivance for holding and turning a drill. Knight.

Whatever is arranged to drop, hang, or fall from an elevated position; also, a contrivance for lowering something; as:

A contrivance for removing superfluous ink or coloring matter from a roller. See Doctor, 4. Knight. Ductor roller (Printing), the roller which conveys or supplies ink to another roller. Knight.

A contrivance for hatching eggs by artificial heat.

A contrivance used to supply small quantities of sweetened liquid, water, etc., to any mixture, or to test tubes, etc.; a dropping bottle.

A mechanical contrivance, usually an endless belt or chain with a series of scoops or buckets, for transferring grain to an upper loft for storage.

Anything used to effect a purpose; any device or contrivance; an agent. Shak. You see the ways the fisherman doth take To catch the fish; what engines doth he make Bunyan. Their promises, enticements, oaths, tokens, and all these engines of lust. Shak.

One who carries through an enterprise by skillful or artful contrivance; an efficient manager. [Colloq.] Civil engineer, a person skilled in the science of civil engineering. -- Military engineer, one who executes engineering works of a military nature. See under Engineering.

Any device or contrivance; machinery; structure or arrangement. Shenstone.

The contrivance in a timepiece which connects the train of wheel work with the pendulum or balance, giving to the latter the impulse by which it is kept in vibration; -- so called because it allows a tooth to escape from a pallet at each vibration.

A contrivance for obtaining a light instantaneous, as a lucifer match. Brande & C.

The act of excogitating; a devising in the thoughts; invention; contrivance.

e from notice and acceptance; as, to explode a scheme, fashion, or doctrine. Old exploded contrivances of mercantile fraud. Burke. To explode and exterminate dark atheism. Bently.

The line, wire, or other contrivance, by which papers are put and kept in order. It is upon a file with the duke's other letters. Shak.

Subtilty of contrivance to gain a point; artifice; stratagem. This is the artificialest piece of finesse to persuade men into slavery. Milton.

orcing pump, usually on wheels, for throwing water to extinguish fire. -- Fire escape, a contrivance for facilitating escape from burning buildings. -- Fire gilding (Fine Arts), a mode of gilding with an amalgam of gold and quicksilver, the latter metal being driven off afterward by heat. -- Fire gilt (Fine Arts), g…