deus ex machina

deus ex ma·chi·na  (ks mäk-n, -nä, mk-n)

n.

1. In Greek and Roman drama, a god lowered by stage machinery to resolve a plot or extricate the protagonist from a difficult situation.

2. An unexpected, artificial, or improbable character, device, or event introduced suddenly in a work of fiction or drama to resolve a situation or untangle a plot.

3. A person or event that provides a sudden and unexpected solution to a difficulty.

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[New Latin deus ex mchin : Latin deus, god + Latin ex, from + Latin mchin, ablative of mchina, machine (translation of Greek theos apo mkhans).]

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deus ex machina (Latin) [ˈdeɪʊs ɛks ˈmækɪnə]

n

1. (Performing Arts / Theatre) (in ancient Greek and Roman drama) a god introduced into a play to resolve the plot

2. (Performing Arts / Theatre) any unlikely or artificial device serving this purpose

[literally: god out of a machine, translating Greek theos ek mēkhanēs]

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deus ex machina

the device of resolving dramatic action by the introduction of an unexpected, improbable, or forced character or incident.

See also: Drama

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

deus ex machina - any active agent who appears unexpectedly to solve an insoluble difficulty causal agency, causal agent, cause - any entity that produces an effect or is responsible for events or results

Translations

deus ex machina

n → Deus ex Machina m