invent

Verb

Synonyms: contrive devise excogitate formulate forge fabricate manufacture cook up make up

WordNet 3.0

Verb (2)

come up with (an idea, plan, explanation, theory, or principle) after a mental effort“excogitate a way to measure the speed of light”Synonyms: contrive devise excogitate formulate forge
make up something artificial or untrueSynonyms: fabricate manufacture cook up make up

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Invent \In*vent"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Invented; p. pr. & vb. n. Inventing.] [L. inventus, p. p. of invenire to come upon, to find, invent; pref. in- in + venire to come, akin to E. come: cf. F. inventer. See Come.] [1913 Webster]

1.To come or light upon; to meet; to find. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

And vowed never to return again, Till him alive or dead she did invent.— Spenser.[1913 Webster]

2.To discover, as by study or inquiry; to find out; to devise; to contrive or produce for the first time; -- applied commonly to the discovery of some serviceable mode, instrument, or machine. [1913 Webster]

Thus first Necessity invented stools.— Cowper.[1913 Webster]

3.To frame by the imagination; to fabricate mentally; to forge; -- in a good or a bad sense; as, to invent the machinery of a poem; to invent a falsehood. [1913 Webster]

Whate'er his cruel malice could invent.— Milton.[1913 Webster]

He had invented some circumstances, and put the worst possible construction on others.— Sir W. Scott.

Syn: To discover; contrive; devise; frame; design; fabricate; concoct; elaborate. See Discover. [1913 Webster]