Stage 4
amicus curiae
Literal translation: friend of the court
More common meaning: a person who advises the court on the matter before it
In an English Sentence: The judge read the materials contained in the amicus curiae
brief with great care.
Someone who is not involved in a lawsuit may submit background information to a
judge in a document called an amicus curiae brief.
bona fide
Literal translation: in good faith
More common meaning: genuine
In an English Sentence: The store gave a discount to bona fide students.
Like antebellum, these two Latin words are sometimes written as a single English
word: bonafide. A bonafide price reduction is a real reduction, not just a fictin to
attract buyers. ‘bonafides’ can also be a plural noun meaning ‘credentials.’ For
example, a diplomat might present his bonafides to a foreign government.
deus ex machina
Literal translation: god from the machine
More common meaning: any artificial or improbable device used to resolve the
difficulties of a plot
In an English Sentence: An unskilled writer may resort to a deus ex machina like a
flood or an earthquake to end a story that has become too long and complicated.
In an ancient theater production, an actor playing the role of a god could be flown on
stage by means of an apparatus like a crane. Today, an abrupt end to a play or novel
can be called a deus ex machina ending.
ex tempore
Literal translation: out of the time, at the moment
More common meaning: on the spur of the moment
In an English Sentence: The lawyer had nothing prepared, so he began to speak ex
tempore
When people speak ex tempore, they are speaking without any preparation. In fact,
that is exactly what the English word ‘extemporaneous’ means.