divine intervention

English

Noun

divine intervention (usually uncountable, plural divine interventions)

1. (set phrase) Direct and obvious intervention by a god in the affairs of humans.
   • 1851, James McCosh, The Method of Divine Government, Physical and Moral, New York: Robert Carter & Bros., p. 479 (Google preview):

     Nature cannot tell beforehand how a Divine intervention is to accomplish its object, for that intervention must be beyond nature, beyond all its findings and experience.

   • 1920, Gilbert Keith Chesterton, chapter 12, in The New Jerusalem:

     And indeed if he does escape it will seem a miracle, and almost a divine intervention, not only to the pursued but to the pursuers.

   • 1977 November 6, Ronald Sullivan, “Hospitals Introducing a Therapy Resembling 'Laying On of Hands'”, in New York Times, retrieved 3 August 2016:

     Unlike some of the more colorful faith healers of the past, Dr. Krieger does not claim miraculous cures or divine interventions.

   • 2002 April 10, Jessica Reaves, “How Dry We Are”, in Time, retrieved 3 August 2016:

     Farmers in the Midwest are literally praying for rain: the St. John Catholic Church in Spearville, Kansas is holding four special services this week to seek divine intervention.

   • 2022 September 28, Drachinifel, 18:04 from the start, in The USN Pacific Submarine Campaign - The Struggle is Real (Jan'43 - Jun'43)‎, archived from the original on 19 July 2023:

     As Silversides now commenced its best imitation of a two-and-a-half-thousand-ton roller coaster heading down into the depths, one of the junior officers half-ran, half-fell through the submarine into the forward torpedo room, to demand of Chief Smiley "do something!" about the stuck bow planes. Illustrating the completely-useless system shattered by the bomb blast, the chief informed the officer that the most-useful thing he was able to do right now was pray for divine intervention.

2. (figurative) An unexpected fortunate turn of events; a miracle.
   • 2024 May 10, Justin Moran, quoting Isaac Dunbar, “Isaac Dunbar and Kerri Colby Were Built for This”, in Paper‎:

     I knew who you were as a [RuPaul's] Drag Race fan. So I was gagged personally and I still am gagged, but it was quite divine intervention. Thom Kerr, the photographer, really got the ball rolling and I had no idea what to expect of this shoot besides greatness.

Translations

intervention by God

Khmer: ទេវាន្តរាគមន៍ (tévéantâréakmôn៍)

See also

• God wink
• miracle