Greek μηχανή — mēkhanē: instrument, device, contrivance, means.

Latin machina: machine, engine, apparatus, contrivance.

Middle French machine → English machine.

The semantic field is older and broader than today's image of gears, motors and electronics.

In Greek theatre, a mēkhanē could be the stage apparatus that lifted a god into view.

Hence: deus ex machina — the god from the machine.

human construction → superhuman appearance

The machine makes visible powers that exceed the ordinary human body.

The machine begins not only with matter, but with know-how.

Greek technē means skilled, rule-governed making.

thought → technē → artifact

Before artificial agency comes the intelligence of the maker.