Devil's Advocate
/ˈdɛvəlz ˈædvəkət/noun
A person who takes an opposing position to test an argument or expose its weaknesses.
Did you know?The Catholic Church’s advocatus diaboli formally argued against proposed canonizations, scrutinizing miracles and alleged virtues before a candidate could become a saint.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*dyēus
“A divine or sky-related being; the ancient root behind several words for gods and the heavens.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
diabolos
“Slanderer or accuser; literally one who throws across or falsely sets people against one another.”
Late Antiquity
Latin
diabolus
“The Devil, adopted from Greek Christian terminology.”
Old English
Old English
dēofol
“The Devil or a demon, borrowed from Latin through Germanic and Christian usage.”
Classical Latin
Latin
advocatus
“A legal representative or someone called in to speak on another person’s behalf; from ad, ‘to,’ and vocare, ‘to call.’”
16th Century
Ecclesiastical Latin
advocatus diaboli
“‘Devil’s advocate,’ the official who argued against a proposed canonization.”
Modern English
English
devil’s advocate
“A person who deliberately argues the opposing side, even without personally holding that view.”