| 释义 |
machination|mækɪˈneɪʃən|
Also 7 matchination.
[ad. L. māchinātiōn-em (either directly, or through F. machination), n. of action f. māchinārī to contrive, machinate.]
1. The action or process of contriving or planning; contrivance, intrigue, plotting. Now rare.
1549Compl. Scot. xi. 90 There liberte..vas ane lang tyme in captiuite, be the machination of ȝour ald enemes. 1605Shakes. Lear v. i. 46 If you miscarry, Your businesse of the world hath so an end, And machination ceases. 1651Hobbes Leviath. i. xiii. 60 By secret machination, or by confederacy with others. 1667Milton P.L. vi. 504 Some one..inspired With dev'lish machination, might devise Like instrument. 1835I. Taylor Spir. Despot. iv. 159 The machination in closets of interests that ought to be openly discussed is a treason against the community.
2. An instance of plotting or contrivance; an intrigue, plot, scheme. Usually in bad sense.
c1477Caxton Jason 77 b, Some welwillars of the king..tolde to him the machinacion of Zethephius. 1539Cromwell Let. 286 in Merriman Life & Lett. (1902) II. 168 Albeit his highnes dothe in no wise feare any of his Censures attemptates or other malicious & devilishe machinacions. 1656J. Hammond Leah & R. (1844) 24 His Highnesse, (not acquainted with these matchinations), had [etc.]. 1678Wood Life 29 Sept., This machinacion fayling, another..was put on foote. 1713Steele Englishman No. 12. 81 Such Men would stand up..against the Machinations of Popery and Slavery. 1749Fielding Tom Jones xvi. iv. To defeat my wisest machinations by your blunders. 1855Macaulay Hist. Eng. xiii. III. 306 Ludlow escaped unhurt from all the machinations of his enemies. 1867Freeman Norm. Conq. (1876) I. iv. 224 The French and German writers know nothing of these machinations of Arnulf.
†3. The use or construction of machinery. Obs.
1641Earl of Monmouth tr. Biondi's Civil Warres iv. 50 Hoping that time and hunger might effect that, which..by all their machinations and assaults they could not doe. 1711W. Sutherland Shipbuild. Assist. 21 Machination, or the forming Machines or Engines.
†4. Something contrived or constructed; esp. in material sense, e.g. a mechanical appliance for war, a framework or apparatus. Obs.
1605Bacon Adv. Learn. i. vi. 14 The Edict..was..accounted a more pernitious engine and machination against the Christian faith, than [etc.]. 1613R. Cawdrey Table Alph. (ed. 3), Machinations, war-like weapons. 1652Gaule Magastrom. 108 Will not then their whole machination, or fabrick of judiciall Astrologie fall to the ground? 1680Moxon Mech. Exerc., Turning 235 If the Puppet be made to it with the Machination described in Plate 17. |