In writing, a deus ex machina happens when something (character, object, ability, event) suddenly resolves a seemingly unsolvable situation, usually at or near the climax. The “something” is unexpected or unlikely, coming out of nowhere.
The term deus ex machina is Latin and translates into “god from the machine.” It references ancient Greek theater, where a god character would be lowered on a crane (machine), or raised through a trapdoor on a riser (machine), to resolve the story’s problem. This pulls the story toward its conclusion.
Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog 
I like this post, not just because I love Latin 😆 but because the explanation is clear – of a term that many people use, but not many understand. Thanks to September and Chris.
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Great explanation!
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