māchĭnātĭo, ōnis, f. [machinor], artificial contrivance, mechanism, machinery (class.).
- I. Lit.: cum machinatione quadam moveri aliquid videmus, ut sphaeram, Cic. N. D. 2, 38, 97: data est quibusdam bestiis machinatio quaedam, et sollertia, power of contrivance, design, id. ib. 2, 48, 123.
- B. Transf. (abstr. pro concreto), a machine, engine: tantae altitudinis machinationes, Caes. B. G. 2, 31: tanta, id. ib. 2, 30; 4, 17: navalis, id. B. C. 2, 10: tale machinationis genus, Liv. 37, 5.
- II. Trop., a trick, device, machination, contrivance; artifice, fraud: judex tamquam machinatione aliqua tum ad severitatem, tum ad remissionem animi est contorquendus, Cic. de Or. 2, 17, 72: dolus malus est omnis calliditas, fallacia, machinatio ad circumveniendum, fallendum, decipiendum alterum adhibita, Dig. 4, 3, 1; 14: per machinationem obligatus, by artifice, by fraud, ib. 45, 1, 36.