History Literature / TheDevilsDictionary

A perennial favorite of [[{{Atheism}} atheists,]] [[SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism cynics,]] [[{{Troll}} denizens of Encyclopedia Dramatica]], and good old-fashioned depressed people, it's considered by some to be a ''bona fide'' classic of American literature, although it isn't very well known in the mainstream and never achieved the notoriety of similar works, such as the writings of Creator/EdgarAllanPoe and Creator/HPLovecraft. In a nutshell, ''The Devil's Dictionary'' is a dictionary that claims to present the "true" definitions of words, or rather the ''concepts'' said words supposedly represent, free of the superficial and hypocritical connotations they've gained throughout their years in the zeitgeist. As expected of Bitter Bierce, the vast majority of these paint even universally benevolent concepts (like "friendship") in a very grim light, often accompanied by poems or rhymes written by Bierce under a series of bizarre and cryptic aliases. Bierce had fierce hatred for mediocrity, common morality and religion, and his frequent jabs caused a great deal of controversy.

--->'''Incompossible''', ''n''. Unable to exist if something else exists. Two things are incompossible when the world of being has scope enough for one of them, but not enough for both -- as WaltWhitman's poetry and God's mercy to man. [...]

* AndIMustScream
* AndZoidberg: Man "multiplies with such insistent rapidity as to infest the whole habitable earth and Canada."

* BrokenAesop
* BrutalHonesty
* BlackComedy

* GodIsEvil

* HurricaneOfPuns

* LiteraryAgentHypothesis: Most of the poetry is quite self-evidently written by Bierce, but he gives fake names for its "writers."

-->'''Die''', ''n''. The singular of "dice." We seldom hear the word, because there is a prohibitory proverb, "Never say die." At long intervals, however, some one says: "The die is cast," which is not true, for it is cut. [...]

* SpoofAesop

* TakeThat: At Romanticism in general, but especially vicious against concepts of love and faith.
** And then there's this very specific target:

** The whole dictionary, really.

* DarkerAndEdgier--not a trope you expect to see applied to dictionaries, but there it is.

* {{Parody}}: Of the ''dictionary'' of all things
* RhymesOnADime - most of his poems.

* TakeAThirdOption - Whenever confronted with two opposing worldviews (atheism and Christianity, communism and capitalism, rationalism and mysticism) Bierce typically heaped scorn on both.
* TakeThat - at Romanticism in general, but especially vicious against concepts of love and faith.

--->'''Incompossible''', ''n''. Unable to exist if something else exists. Two things are incompossible when the world of being has scope enough for one of them, but not enough for both -- as WaltWhitman's poetry and God's mercy to man.

Read more: http://www.answers.com/topic/incompossible#ixzz2fPXDDIe0

-->'''Die''', ''n''. The singular of "dice." We seldom hear the word, because there is a prohibitory proverb, [[InvokedTrope "Never say die."]] At long intervals, however, some one says: "The die is cast," which is not true, for it is cut. [...]

Replied "His head, at least, appears excessive."

A perennial favorite of [[{{Atheism}} atheists,]] [[SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism cynics,]] [[{{Troll}} denizens of Encyclopedia Dramatica]], and good old-fashioned Depressed People, it's considered by some to be a ''bona fide'' classic of American literature, although it isn't very well known in the mainstream and never achieved the notoriety of similar works, such as the writings of Creator/EdgarAllanPoe and Creator/HPLovecraft. In a nutshell, ''The Devil's Dictionary'' is a dictionary that claims to present the "true" definitions of words, or rather the ''concepts'' said words supposedly represent, free of the superficial and hypocritical connotations they've gained throughout their years in the zeitgeist. As expected of Bitter Bierce, the vast majority of these paint even universally benevolent concepts (like "friendship") in a very grim light, often accompanied by poems or rhymes written by Bierce under a series of bizarre and cryptic aliases. Bierce had fierce hatred for mediocrity, common morality and religion, and his frequent jabs caused a great deal of controversy.

A perennial favorite of [[{{Atheism}} atheists,]] [[SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism cynics,]] [[{{Troll}} denizens of Encyclopedia Dramatica]], and good old-fashioned Depressed People, it's considered by some to be a ''bona fide'' classic of American literature, although it isn't very well known in the mainstream and never achieved the notoriety of similar works, such as the writings of EdgarAllanPoe and Creator/HPLovecraft. In a nutshell, ''The Devil's Dictionary'' is a dictionary that claims to present the "true" definitions of words, or rather the ''concepts'' said words supposedly represent, free of the superficial and hypocritical connotations they've gained throughout their years in the zeitgeist. As expected of Bitter Bierce, the vast majority of these paint even universally benevolent concepts (like "friendship") in a very grim light, often accompanied by poems or rhymes written by Bierce under a series of bizarre and cryptic aliases. Bierce had fierce hatred for mediocrity, common morality and religion, and his frequent jabs caused a great deal of controversy.

A hilarious collection of [[BrokenAesop broken aesops]], [[FamilyUnfriendlyAesop family unfriendly aesops]], and spoof definitions by American satirist AmbroseBierce. They originally ran a few a week in newspapers, under the title ''The Cynic's Word Book'', but were eventually compiled into a book that's now free from copyright. Bierce had nothing but contempt for the mores and customs of his fellow man, and his book is full of ungentle {{Deconstruction}} of what people secretly mean when they speak.

-->A person who pervades the domain of intellectual speculation and diffuses himself through the channels of moral activity. He is omnific, omniform, omnipercipient, omniscience, omnipotent. He it was who invented letters, printing, the railroad, the steamboat, the telegraph, the platitude and the circle of the sciences. He created patriotism and taught the nations war -- founded theology, philosophy, law, medicine and [[MurderArsonAndJaywalking Chicago]]. He established monarchical and republican government. He is from everlasting to everlasting -- such as creation's dawn beheld he fooleth now. In the morning of time he sang upon primitive hills, and in the noonday of existence headed the procession of being. His grandmotherly hand was warmly tucked-in the set sun of civilization, and in the twilight he prepares Man's evening meal of milk-and-morality and turns down the covers of the universal grave. And after the rest of us shall have retired for the night of eternal oblivion he will sit up to write a history of human civilization.

A perennial favorite of [[{{Atheism}} atheists,]] [[SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism cynics,]] denizens of Encyclopedia Dramatica, and good old-fashioned Depressed People, it's considered by some to be a ''bona fide'' classic of American literature, although it isn't very well known in the mainstream and never achieved the notoriety of similar works, such as the writings of EdgarAllanPoe and Creator/HPLovecraft. In a nutshell, ''The Devil's Dictionary'' is a dictionary that claims to present the "true" definitions of words, or rather the ''concepts'' said words supposedly represent, free of the superficial and hypocritical connotations they've gained throughout their years in the zeitgeist. As expected of Bitter Bierce, the vast majority of these paint even universally benevolent concepts (like "friendship") in a very grim light, often accompanied by poems or rhymes written by Bierce under a series of bizarre and cryptic aliases. Bierce had fierce hatred for mediocrity, common morality and religion, and his frequent jabs caused a great deal of controversy.

* ValuesDissonance: Look under "African".

* DarkerAndEdgier

A perennial favorite of [[{{Atheism}} atheists,]] [[SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism cynics,]] denizens of Encyclopedia Dramatica, and good old-fashioned Depressed People, it's considered by some to be a ''bona fide'' classic of American literature, although it isn't very well known in the mainstream and never achieved the notoriety of similar works, such as the writings of EdgarAllanPoe and HPLovecraft. In a nutshell, ''The Devil's Dictionary'' is a dictionary that claims to present the "true" definitions of words, or rather the ''concepts'' said words supposedly represent, free of the superficial and hypocritical connotations they've gained throughout their years in the zeitgeist. As expected of Bitter Bierce, the vast majority of these paint even universally benevolent concepts (like "friendship") in a very grim light, often accompanied by poems or rhymes written by Bierce under a series of bizarre and cryptic aliases. Bierce had fierce hatred for mediocrity, common morality and religion, and his frequent jabs caused a great deal of controversy.

--> An instrument in harmony with the sentiments of an assassin.

* AndZoidberg: Man "multiplies with such insistent rapidity as to infest the whole habitable earth and Canada."

-->'''Clergyman''', ''n''. A man who undertakes the management of our spiritual affairs as a method of bettering his temporal ones.

-->'''Circus''', ''n''. A place where horses, ponies and elephants are permitted to see men, women and children acting the fool.

-->'''Cat''', ''n''. A soft, indestructible automaton provided by nature to be kicked when things go wrong in the domestic circle.

-->'''Kilt''', ''n''. A costume sometimes worn by Scotchmen in America and Americans in Scotland.

* TragicMulatto: The quote on the page sums it up.

* {{Parody}}: Of the ''{{dictionary}}'' of all things

According to its author, it is [[strike:a most useful work]] ''intended to be used as a school textbook.'' A copy can be found online [[http://www.alcyone.com/max/lit/devils/index.html here]]. Or [[http://packages.debian.org/lenny/dict-devil here]], in dictd-compatible dictionary format.

-->-- From ''The Devil's Dictionary'', on "Homicide"