machination
[ mak-uh-ney-shuhn ]
/ ˌmæk əˈneɪ ʃən /
noun
an act or instance of machinating.
Usually machinations. crafty schemes; plots; intrigues.
Nearby words
machida, machilid, machilipatnam, machinable, machinate, machination, machinations, machinator, machine, machine bolt, machine code
Origin of machination
Related formsan·ti·mach·i·na·tion, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for machination
British Dictionary definitions for machination
machination
/ (ˌmækɪˈneɪʃən, ˌmæʃ-) /
noun
an intrigue, plot, or scheme
the act of devising plots or schemes
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for machination
machination
late 15c., "a plotting, intrigue," from Old French machinacion "plot, conspiracy, scheming, intrigue," from Latin machinationem (nominative machinatio) "device, contrivance, machination," noun of action from past participle stem of machinari "contrive skillfully, to design; to scheme, to plot," from machina (see machine). Related: Machinations.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper