advocatus diaboli

American  

[ahd-vaw-kah-toos dee-ah-baw-lee] / ˌɑd vɔˈkɑ tus diˈɑ bɔˌli /

noun

Medieval Latin.

1. devil's advocate.

---

advocatus diaboli British  

/ ˌædvəˈkɑːtəs daɪˈæbəˌlaɪ /

noun

1. another name for the devil's advocate

---

Example Sentences

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

You can never catch the advocatus diaboli asleep,' concluded Raphael, laughing.

From Project Gutenberg