, Hdt.2.125, IG11(2).161 A69, al. (Delos, iii B. C.); μ. τετράκωλος, δίκωλοσ, Rev.Phil.44.251 (Didyma, ii B. C.); μ. λιθαγωγόσPoll. 10.148; ἰχθυβόλῳ μ., of Poseidon's trident, A.Th.132 (lyr.); λαοπόροις μ., of Xerxes' bridge of boats, Id.Pers.114 (lyr.), cf. 722; freq. of irrigation machines, POxy.985 (i A. D.), etc.; also of oil-presses, Wilcken Chr.176.10 (i/ii A. D.), etc. 2.
engine
of war, μηχανὰς προσάγεινTh.2.76, etc.; ἑλεῖν μηχαναῖσId.4.13. 3.
theatrical machine
by which gods, etc., were made to appear in the air, Pl.Cra.425d, Clit.407a; αἴρειν μ.Antiph.191.15, Alex.126.19: hence, prov. of anything sudden and unexpected, ἀπὸ μηχανῆς θεὸς ἐπεφάνησMen. 227; ὥσπερ ἀπὸ μ.D.40.59, cf. Arist.Po.1454b1. 4.
area of land irrigated by a machine,
POxy.1830.13 (vi A. D.), PLond.5.1765 (vi A. D.), PSI1.77.14 (vi A. D.). II.
any artificial means
or
contrivance
for doing a thing, ἤτοι κλήρῳ .., ἢ ἄλλῃ τινὶ μ.Hdt.3.83; εἴ τίς ἐστι μ., ἴθι καὶ πειρῶId.8.57, etc.; esp. in pl. μηχαναί,