I’m curious if there is an etymological tie, albeit remote, between two words that introverts everywhere shrink at the mere mention of: ‘Machiavellian’ and ‘machination’ (see MWCD definitions below). Or is the similarity merely coincidental? At first glance the dates given indicate that there could be no tie. But I’m suspect of the date 15th century as the earliest use of machination. Common notion says machination is an inflected form of machine of which the earliest use given by MWCD was circa 1545 (1549 elsewhere). Interestingly, Machiavelli’s "Il Principe (The Prince)", was written in 1532, which I believe the inspiration of the term Machiavellian right? Needless to say these latter dates make a comparison more compelling.

Then again, I’m probably all wet.

Main Entry: Ma.chi.a.vel.lian
Pronunciation: "ma-kE-&-‘ve-lE-&n, -‘vel-y&n
Function: adjective
Etymology: Niccolo Machiavelli
Date: 1579
…
2 : suggesting the principles of conduct laid down by Machiavelli; specifically : marked by cunning, duplicity, or bad faith
- Machiavellian noun

Main Entry: mach.i.na.tion
Pronunciation: "ma-k&-‘nA-sh&n, "ma-sh&-
Function: noun
Date: 15th century
…
2 : a scheming or crafty action or artful design intended to accomplish some usually evil end
synonym see PLOT

My Concise OED dates machinate to the sixteenth century, but says that machination was used in ME.  Your post gives the fifteenth century for machination, which would agree with the ME reference given in my OED.

Given that the first recorded use of Machiavelian was sixteenth century (1579 in your post), there would seem to be no etymological relationship, despite the similarity of meaning.

Personally, I do not think that Machiavelli deserves the bad press that he has received.

[quote author=Linnet link=board=etymology;num=1030757279;start=0#1 date=08/31/02 at 04:28:32]Personally, I do not think that Machiavelli deserves the bad press that he has received.

I don’t either. But maybe I’m being Machiavellian and just trying to gain your favor by saying that?

I don’t either. But maybe I’m being Machiavellian and just trying to gain your favor by saying that?

Assuming my favour is worth having… (personally, I doubt it), but feel free to brown nose, anyway.  :)

[quote author=Linnet link=board=etymology;num=1030757279;start=0#1 date=08/31/02 at 04:28:32]Personally, I do not think that Machiavelli deserves the bad press that he has received.

I came across a quote attributed to the man, along the lines of ‘there is nothing more difficult than to set up a new order of things’ - badly mangled I’m sure. But I know what he meant, and he was right in that at least.

[quote author=Linnet link=board=etymology;num=1030757279;start=0#1 date=08/31/02 at 04:28:32]Personally, I do not think that Machiavelli deserves the bad press that he has received.

‘The Prince’ is pretty tame by our standards - it reads more like a management guide than a way to world domination. But for 16th century Italy, where moral behaviour made the difference between eternal damnation and everlasting peace, it made quite a stir. Not in time to do Machivelli any good, though, especially as the whole thing was written as an attempt to get his job back…

Aeschylus

Of course, he frequently makes mention of how good it is to be moral, just that unfortunately, it doesn’t get stuff done. Machiavelli really does get a bad rap—- after all, the justification for truly Machiavellian actions is not self-agrandizement or gain, but a concern for a higher cause that can’t be achieved through the normal channels. Then again, he did use the slime of the earth to illustrate his principles…

I would say that machination derives from old greek mechos, a contrivance, ingenious plan or device.

In Greek tragedy, "Apo michanis Theos" was used for a deity lowered to the stage by a mechanical device to save the situation. It’s survived till today as an expression. "Michani", then as well as nowdays, means  engine, device, machine, machination, plot etc in Greek.

So maybe there’s something in connection with Macchiavelli after all.

Nikos

[quote author=NikosD link=board=etymology;num=1030757279;start=0#9 date=03/21/04 at 03:50:26]In Greek tragedy, "Apo michanis Theos" was used for a deity lowered to the stage by a mechanical device to save the situation. It’s survived till today as an expression.
Nikos

The Latin deus ex machina is more familiar to us.