Machination, n.
Etymology: [L. machinatio: cf. F. machination.]
1. The act of machinating. Shak.
2. That which is devised; a device; a hostile or treacherous scheme; an artful design or plot. Devilish machinations come to naught. Milton. His ingenious machinations had failed. Macaulay.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for machination; he lists it under artifice.
He lists it without comment; the entries above explain its neighbors.