machiner

Senses

1. 1.

   to plot; to scheme

   to devise or carry out a secret plan, often with negative intent

2. 2.

   to contrive; to engineer

   to arrange or bring about through deliberate effort or cunning

Examples

• "Ils machinent quelque chose contre lui."

  They are plotting something against him.

• "Elle a machiné cette rencontre pour les rapprocher."

  She engineered this meeting to bring them together.

• "On ne sait pas ce qu'il machine, mais c'est suspect."

  We don't know what he's scheming, but it looks suspicious.

Usage

Formal and somewhat literary register. Often implies secretive or questionable intent (though not always). Frequently used in the gerund form "il machine quelque chose" (he's up to something). Similar in meaning to *intriguer* or *comploter*, but slightly more generic.