advocatus diaboli

[ ahd-vaw-kah-toos dee-ah-baw-lee ]

noun

, Medieval Latin.

1. devil's advocate ( def 2 ).

advocatus diaboli

/ ˌædvəˈkɑːtəs daɪˈæbəˌlaɪ /

noun

1. another name for the devil's advocate

Example Sentences

In Rome the advocatus diaboli, or devil’s advocate, had been established as early as 1587 to test the evidence adduced in support of the miracles claimed for those proposed for canonization.

From Literature

That name dates back to the 17th century, when the Roman Catholic Church created an office popularly known as the advocatus diaboli — a person tasked with making the case against the canonization of new saints, scrutinizing every report of their miracles and virtue.

From New York Times

It also used to be that an apparatus of inquiry was set in train, including the scrutiny of an advocatus diaboli or "devil's advocate," to test any extraordinary claims.

From Slate

Thus you become an advocatus diaboli by setting up the success, the fact, as your idol: whereas the fact is always dull, at all times more like calf than a god.

From Project Gutenberg

This is the case of the advocatus diaboli against Froude.

From Project Gutenberg