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Ambrose Bierce
SYLPH, n. An...
SYLPH, n. An immaterial but visible being that inhabited the air when the air was an element and before it was fatally...
THEOSOPHY, n. An...
THEOSOPHY, n. An ancient faith having all the certitude of religion and all the mystery of...
REVOLUTION, n. In...
REVOLUTION, n. In politics, an abrupt change in the form of misgovernment. . . . the substitution of the rule of an...
SATIETY, n. The...
SATIETY, n. The feeling that one has for the plate after he has eaten its contents, madam.
SATIRE, n. An...
SATIRE, n. An obsolete kind of literary composition in which the vices and follies of the author's enemies were...
TALK, v.t. To...
TALK, v.t. To commit an indiscretion without temptation, from an impulse without purpose.
TRUTH, n. An...
TRUTH, n. An ingenious compound of desirability and appearance. Discovery of truth is the sole purpose of philosophy,...
RITE, n. A...
RITE, n. A religious or semi-religious ceremony fixed by law, precept or custom, with the essential oil of sincerity...
SCRIBBLER, n. A...
SCRIBBLER, n. A professional writer whose views are antagonistic to one's own.
SCEPTER, n. A...
SCEPTER, n. A king's staff of office, the sign and symbol of his authority. It was originally a mace with which the...
TELESCOPE, n. A...
TELESCOPE, n. A device having a relation to the eye similar to that of the telephone to the ear, enabling distant...
TRUTHFUL, adj. Dumb...
TRUTHFUL, adj. Dumb and illiterate.
Source: The Devil's Dictionary, 1911.
--...
SAUCE, n. The...
SAUCE, n. The one infallible sign of civilization and enlightenment. A people with no sauces has one thousand vices;...
SEINE, n. A...
SEINE, n. A kind of net for effecting an involuntary change of environment. For fish it is made strong and coarse, but...
SCRAP-BOOK, n. A...
SCRAP-BOOK, n. A book that is commonly edited by a fool. Many persons of some small distinction compile scrap-books...
TRUCE, n. Friendship....
TRUCE, n. Friendship.
Source: The Devil's Dictionary, 1911.
-- Ambrose Bierce,...
TZETZE (or TSETSE)...
TZETZE (or TSETSE) FLY, n. An African insect (Glossina morsitans) whose bite is commonly regarded as nature's most...
SCARABAEUS, n. The...
SCARABAEUS, n. The sacred beetle of the ancient Egyptians, allied to our familiar tumble-bug. It was supposed to...
SERIAL, n. A...
SERIAL, n. A literary work, usually a story that is not true, creeping through several issues of a newspaper or...
SELFISH, adj. Devoid...
SELFISH, adj. Devoid of consideration for the selfishness of others.
Source: The...