machination

noun

1. an act or instance of machinating.
2. Usually machinations. crafty schemes; plots; intrigues.

noun

1. an intrigue, plot, or scheme
2. the act of devising plots or schemes

n.late 15c., “a plotting, intrigue,” from Old French machinacion “plot, conspiracy, scheming, intrigue,” from Latin machinationem (nominative machinatio) “device, contrivance, machination,” noun of action from past participle stem of machinari “contrive skillfully, to design; to scheme, to plot,” from machina (see machine). Related: Machinations.