μηχᾰν-ή,
Doric dialect μᾱχᾰνά, ἡ, (μῆχος):
__I contrivance, especially machine for lifting weights and the like, crane, [[ 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 2.125, “IG” 11(2).161 A 69, +others (Delos, 3rd c.BC)] Refs 5th c.BC+]; μ. τετράκωλος, δίκωλος, [[ “Rev.Phil.” 44.251 (Didyma, 2nd c.BC)] Refs 2nd c.BC+]; μ. λιθαγωγός [[ 2nd c.AD(?): Pollianus Epigrammaticus 10.148 ] Refs 2nd c.AD+]; ἰχθυβόλῳ μ., of Poseidon's trident, [[ 4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Septem contra Thebas” 132 (Lyric poetry)] Refs 4th c.BC+]; λαοπόροις μ., of Xerxes' bridge of boats, [[ [prev. author] “Pers.” 114 (Lyric poetry), compare 722 ] Refs]; frequently of irrigation machines, [[ “POxy.” 985 (1st c.AD), etc.] Refs 1st c.AD+]; also of oil-presses, Wilcken [[ “Chr.” 176.10 (1st-2nd c.AD), etc. ] Refs 1st c.AD+]
__I.2 engine of war, μηχανὰς προσάγειν [[ 5th c.BC: Thucydides Historicus 2.76, etc.; ἑλεῖν μηχαναῖς [prev. author] 4.13. ] Refs 5th c.BC+]
__I.3 theatrical machine by which gods, etc., were made to appear in the air, [[ 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Cratylus” 425d, “Clit.” 407a; αἴρειν μ. 4th c.BC: Antiphanes Comicus 191.15, 2nd c.AD: Alexander Rhetor 126.19 ] Refs 5th c.BC+]: hence, proverbial of anything sudden and unexpected, ἀπὸ μηχανῆς θεὸς ἐπεφάνης [[ 4th-3rd c.BC: Menander Comicus 227; ὥσπερ ἀπὸ μ. 4th c.BC: Demosthenes Orator 40.59, compare 4th c.BC: Aristoteles Philosophus “Poetica” 1454b1. ] Refs 4th c.BC+]
__I.4 area of land irrigated by a machine, [[ POxy. 1830.13 (6th c.AD), “PLond.” 5.1765 (6th c.AD), “PSI” 1.77.14 (6th c.AD). ] Refs 6th c.AD+]