I.a machine, i. e. any artificial contrivance for performing work, an engine, fabric, frame, scaffolding, staging, easel, warlike engine, military machine, etc.
I. Lit.
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.—
B. Esp.,
1. A platform on which slaves were exposed for sale: “amicam de machinis emere,” Q. Cic. Petit. Cons. 2, 8.—
2. A painter's easel, Plin. 35, 10, 37, § 120.—
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.—
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.
