HOW TO PRONOUNCE
Deus ex Machina
/ˌdeɪ.əs ˌɛks ˈmɑkənə/
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American Pronunciation Guide · 0:31
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What does Deus ex Machina mean?
noun
- Any resolution to a story that does not pay due regard to the story's internal logic and that is so unlikely that it challenges suspension of disbelief, and presumably allows the author, director, or developer to end the story in the way that they desired.
- A contrived solution to a problem, relying on an agent external to the situation.
More meanings (2)
noun
- (historical, literary) A deity in Greek and Roman drama who was brought in by stage machinery to intervene in a difficult situation (i.e., to resolve a crisis, or untangle issues surrounding it, a character logically expected to do so).
- (historical) A machine used to bring an actor playing a god onto the stage, either up through a trapdoor or (e.g. by crane) from above.
Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0
IPA pronunciation
/ˌdeɪ.əs ˌɛks ˈmɑkənə/
Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.
In the pages of books
See this word in context.
The decisive incidents seem to be brought in like the deus ex machina of the later Greek drama.
The precursor is the deus ex machina of evolution.
More book examples (3)
Fortunately, at about the time when Darwin's Descent of Man was published, there had come into Princeton University "deus ex machina" in the person of Dr. James McCosh.
Its evidence may even be taken in a court of law in place of documents, and it is conceivable that some important action might be settled by the voice of this DEUS EX MACHINA.
Otherwise indeed (as was remarked above) history could not be a science; for with a deus ex machina who can be brought on the stage to solve difficulties scientific treatment is a farce.