Lewis & Short

† māchĭna, ae, f. = μηχανή, a machine, i. e. any artificial contrivance for performing work, an engine, fabric, frame, scaffolding, staging, easel, warlike engine, military machine, etc.

  1. I. Lit.
    1. A. In gen.: moles et machina mundi, Lucr. 5, 96: omnes illae columnae machinā appositā dejectae sunt, Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 55, § 145: torquet nunc lapidem, nunc ingens machina tignum, Hor. Ep. 2, 2, 73: trahuntque siccas machinae carinas, id. C. 1, 4, 2: frumentaria, Dig. 33, 7, 12.
    2. B. Esp.,
      1. 1. A platform on which slaves were exposed for sale: amicam de machinis emere, Q. Cic. Petit. Cons. 2, 8.
      2. 2. A painter’s easel, Plin. 35, 10, 37, § 120.
      3. 3. A scaffold for building: de machinā cadere, Dig. 13, 6, 5; Plin. 19, 2, 8, § 30.
      4. 4. A military machine, warlike engine: machinis omnium generum expugnare oppidum, Sall. J. 21: aut haec in nostros fabricata est machina muros, Verg. A. 2, 46: murales, Plin. 7, 56, 57, § 202: arietaria, Vitr. 10, 19.
  2. II. Trop., a device, plan, contrivance; esp. a trick, artifice, stratagem: at nunc disturba quas statuisti machinas, i. e. abandon your schemes, Plaut. Ps. 1, 5, 137: totam hanc legem ad illius opes evertendas tamquam machinam comparari, Cic. Agr. 2, 18, 50: omnes ad amplificandam orationem quasi machinae, * Quint. 11, 1, 44: dolum aut machinam commoliar, Caecil. ap. Cic. N. D. 3, 29, 73: quantas moveo machinas! Plaut. Mil. 3, 2, 1: aliquam machinabor machinam, Unde aurum efficiam, id. Bacch. 2, 2, 54.