contrivance vs maneuver

contrivance

noun
  • A means, such as an elaborate plan or strategy, to accomplish a certain objective. 

  • Something overly artful or artificial. 

  • A (mechanical) device to perform a certain task. 

maneuver

noun
  • Any strategic or cunning action; a stratagem. 

  • A controlled (especially skillful) movement taken while steering a vehicle. 

  • The planned movement of troops, vehicles etc.; a strategic repositioning; (later also) a large training field-exercise of fighting units. 

  • A specific medical or surgical movement, often eponymous, done with the doctor's hands or surgical instruments. 

  • A movement of the body, or with an implement, instrument etc., especially one performed with skill or dexterity. 

verb
  • To move (something, or oneself) carefully, and often with difficulty, into a certain position. 

  • To guide, steer, manage purposefully 

  • To intrigue, manipulate, plot, scheme 

How often have the words contrivance and maneuver occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )