1. = Lat. machina: 2. an instrument, machine for lifting weights and the like, (Herdotus Historicus); μ. Ποσειδῶνος, of the trident, (Aeschulus Tragicus); λαοπόροις μ., of Xerxes' bridge of boats, (Aeschulus Tragicus) 3. an engine of war, (Thucydides) 4. a theatrical machine , by which gods were made to appear in the air, (Plato Philosophus): hence proverbial of any sudden appearance, ὥσπερ ἀπὸ μηχανῆς (cf. Lat. deus ex machina), (Demosthenes Orator) 5. any contrivance , for doing a thing, (Herdotus Historicus), etc.: in plural μηχαναί, shifts, devices, arts, wiles , (Hesiod), attic; μηχαναῖς Διός by the arts of Zeus, (Aeschulus Tragicus); proverbial, μηχαναὶ Σισύφου (Aristophanes Comicus):—;Phrases, μηχανήν or μηχανὰς προσφέρειν (Euripides); εὑρίσκειν (Aeschulus Tragicus), etc.:—;with genitive, μ. κακῶν a contrivance against ills, (Euripides); but, μ. σωτηρίας a way of providing safety, (Aeschulus Tragicus) 6. οὐδεμία μηχανή [ ἐστι] ὅπως οὐ, with future, (Herdotus Historicus); also, μὴ οὐ, with infinitive, (Herdotus Historicus) 7. in adverb, phrases, ἐκ μηχανῆς τινος in some way or other, (Herdotus Historicus); μηδεμιῆι μηχανῆι by no means whatsoever, (Herdotus Historicus) (ML)