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machinate

[mak-uh-neyt]
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verb (used with or without object), mach·i·nat·ed, mach·i·nat·ing.
  1. to contrive or plot, especially artfully or with evil purpose: to machinate the overthrow of the government.
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Origin of machinate

1590–1600; < Latin māchinātus past participle of māchinārī to invent, contrive, devise artfully. See machine, -ate1
Related formsmach·i·na·tor, nounun·mach·i·nat·ed, adjectiveun·mach·i·nat·ing, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

colludepromotedeviseconnivecontriveconspireinventfinaglewangledesignplanhatchcogitateschemeintrigueengineer

Examples from the Web for machinate

Historical Examples

  • But we leave the beauteous Kate and her mischief-loving maiden, to plot and machinate against the unsuspecting lover.

    Traditions of Lancashire, Volume 2 (of 2)

    John Roby

British Dictionary definitions for machinate

machinate

verb
  1. (usually tr) to contrive, plan, or devise (schemes, plots, etc)
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Derived Formsmachinator, noun

Word Origin

C17: from Latin māchinārī to plan, from māchina machine
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for machinate

v.

"lay plots, intrigue," c.1600, a back-formation from machination, or else from Latin machinatus, past participle of machinari (see machination). Related: Machinated; machinating; machinator.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper