machination

English

WOTD - 21 August 2007    

Etymology

From Latin machinatio, from machinari (“to contrive”); see machinate.

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˌmækɪˈneɪʃən/, /ˌmæʃɪˈneɪʃən/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -eɪʃən

Noun

machination (plural machinations)

1. A clever scheme or artful plot, usually crafted for evil purposes.
2. The act of machinating or plotting.

Related terms

• machinal
• machinate

Translations

clever scheme or artful plot, usually crafted for evil purposes

Croatian: makinacija f., spletka f. Finnish: masinointi (fi) German: Machenschaft (de) f.

Spanish: maquinación (es) f. Traditional Chinese: 奸計，陰謀

act of machinating

Finnish: masinointi (fi)

External links

• machination in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• machination in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911

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French

Noun

machination f. (plural machinations)

1. Undercover or underhanded plot; machination.