machinate

[mak-uh-neyt]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR machinate ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with or without object), mach·i·nat·ed, mach·i·nat·ing.

to contrive or plot, especially artfully or with evil purpose: to machinate the overthrow of the government.

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. 2019

Related Words for machinate

collude, promote, devise, connive, contrive, conspire, invent, finagle, wangle, design, plan, hatch, cogitate, scheme, intrigue, engineer

Examples from the Web for machinate

Historical Examples of machinate

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

(usually tr) to contrive, plan, or devise (schemes, plots, etc)

Derived Formsmachinator, noun

Word Origin for machinate

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

"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.