| | The Devil's Dictionary |
type |
TVTItem |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
label |
The Devil's Dictionary |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
page |
TheDevilsDictionary |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
comment |
A hilarious collection of broken Aesops, Aesops with problematic aspects, and spoof definitions by American satirist Ambrose Bierce. 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 perennial favorite of atheists, cynics, trolls, 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 Edgar Allan Poe and H. P. Lovecraft. 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 a fierce hatred for mediocrity, common morality and religion, and his frequent jabs caused a great deal of controversy.Many definitions came with quotes, real or fabricated, illustrating the folly usually accompanying the use of the word. He also frequently employed puns, some to truly awful effect. Some examples:According to its author, it is intended to be used as a school textbook. A copy can be found online here. Or here, in dictd-compatible dictionary format. |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
fetched |
2023-07-20T04:16:16Z |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
parsed |
2023-07-20T04:16:16Z |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
isPartOf |
DBTropes |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_1235f055 |
type |
Dirty Coward |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_1235f055 |
comment |
Dirty Coward: "One who in a perilous emergency thinks with his legs." |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_1235f055 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_1235f055 |
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| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_1235f055 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_13646b1b |
type |
My Friends... and Zoidberg |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_13646b1b |
comment |
My Friends... and Zoidberg: Man "multiplies with such insistent rapidity as to infest the whole habitable earth and Canada". From the entry on Trial: |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_13646b1b |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_13646b1b |
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| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_13646b1b |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_14beeefd |
type |
Darker and Edgier |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_14beeefd |
comment |
Darker and Edgier: Not a trope you expect to see applied to dictionaries, but there it is. |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_14beeefd |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_14beeefd |
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| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_14beeefd |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_15929a2d |
type |
Man in a Kilt |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_15929a2d |
comment |
Man in a Kilt: |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_15929a2d |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_15929a2d |
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| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_15929a2d |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_15aa2b3c |
type |
The Confidant |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_15aa2b3c |
comment |
The Confidant: "One entrusted by A with the secrets of B, confided by him to C." |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_15aa2b3c |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_15aa2b3c |
featureConfidence |
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| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_15aa2b3c |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_1759af2f |
type |
Feghoot |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_1759af2f |
comment |
Feghoot: |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_1759af2f |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_1759af2f |
featureConfidence |
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| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_1759af2f |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_1b70ccc6 |
type |
The Cynic |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_1b70ccc6 |
comment |
The Cynic: "A blackguard whose faulty vision sees things as they are, not as they ought to be. Hence the custom among the Scythians of plucking out a cynic’s eyes to improve his vision." |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_1b70ccc6 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_1b70ccc6 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_1b70ccc6 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_1d8733d3 |
type |
Overly Narrow Superlative |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_1d8733d3 |
comment |
Overly Narrow Superlative: |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_1d8733d3 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_1d8733d3 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_1d8733d3 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_1effdd6b |
type |
White Man's Burden |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_1effdd6b |
comment |
White Man's Burden: Mocked with "aboriginals". |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_1effdd6b |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_1effdd6b |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_1effdd6b |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_22071825 |
type |
I'm a Humanitarian |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_22071825 |
comment |
I'm a Humanitarian: |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_22071825 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_22071825 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_22071825 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_222dc873 |
type |
Black Comedy |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_222dc873 |
comment |
Black Comedy: On show throughout. See, for example: |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_222dc873 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_222dc873 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_222dc873 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_22a60f6a |
type |
Nepotism |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_22a60f6a |
comment |
Nepotism: |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_22a60f6a |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_22a60f6a |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_22a60f6a |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_230d64 |
type |
Screw the Rules, I Have Money! |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_230d64 |
comment |
Screw the Rules, I Have Money! |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_230d64 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_230d64 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_230d64 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_23ff95fb |
type |
Brutal Honesty |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_23ff95fb |
comment |
Brutal Honesty: Bierce wrote the dictionary as a Juvenalian satire on all the hypocrisies of the civilised world, and does not pull any punches. |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_23ff95fb |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_23ff95fb |
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1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
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The Devil's Dictionary / int_23ff95fb |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_2937826d |
type |
Hurricane of Puns |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_2937826d |
comment |
Hurricane of Puns: Many, e.g. the above definition of "harangue". |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_2937826d |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_2937826d |
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1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_2937826d |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_29f510be |
type |
Auction |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_29f510be |
comment |
Auction: |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_29f510be |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_29f510be |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_29f510be |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_2a3f13e4 |
type |
Aging Tropes |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_2a3f13e4 |
comment |
Aging Tropes: |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_2a3f13e4 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_2a3f13e4 |
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1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_2a3f13e4 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_30d43197 |
type |
Remonstrating with a Gun |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_30d43197 |
comment |
Remonstrating with a Gun |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_30d43197 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_30d43197 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_30d43197 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_34dcfc96 |
type |
Kick the Dog |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_34dcfc96 |
comment |
Kick the Dog |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_34dcfc96 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_34dcfc96 |
featureConfidence |
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| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_34dcfc96 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_372bc105 |
type |
Sliding Scale of Idealism Versus Cynicism |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_372bc105 |
comment |
Sliding Scale of Idealism Versus Cynicism: Need we even say which side it falls on? Also incredible is the sheer number of Take Thats, satirical jabs, and general fuck-yous it aims at the other end. |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_372bc105 |
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1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_372bc105 |
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1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_372bc105 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_39ed1c8a |
type |
Conspiracy Theorist |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_39ed1c8a |
comment |
Conspiracy Theorist: Bierce satirizes some views of these with the entry on "Freemasons": |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_39ed1c8a |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_39ed1c8a |
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1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_39ed1c8a |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_3e5f74c |
type |
Take That, Critics! |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_3e5f74c |
comment |
Take That, Critics!: |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_3e5f74c |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_3e5f74c |
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1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_3e5f74c |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_3f064a0d |
type |
Humans Are Morons |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_3f064a0d |
comment |
Humans Are Morons |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_3f064a0d |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_3f064a0d |
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1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_3f064a0d |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_3fe2b13f |
type |
Ungrateful Bastard |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_3fe2b13f |
comment |
Ungrateful Bastard: |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_3fe2b13f |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_3fe2b13f |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_3fe2b13f |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_44a893af |
type |
Humans Through Alien Eyes |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_44a893af |
comment |
Humans Through Alien Eyes: The book has a character called the Lunarian encounter a human and ask innocent questions about the American system of government to show what Bierce considers to be absurdities in that system. |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_44a893af |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_44a893af |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_44a893af |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_45cd286c |
type |
Corrupt Politician |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_45cd286c |
comment |
Corrupt Politician: |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_45cd286c |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_45cd286c |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_45cd286c |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_4712bc4f |
type |
Exact Eavesdropping |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_4712bc4f |
comment |
Exact Eavesdropping: |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_4712bc4f |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_4712bc4f |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_4712bc4f |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_483152c4 |
type |
The Resenter |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_483152c4 |
comment |
The Resenter: |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_483152c4 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_483152c4 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_483152c4 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_4a4d6f7c |
type |
Comedic Sociopathy |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_4a4d6f7c |
comment |
Comedic Sociopathy: A major theme throughout Bierce’s definitions |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_4a4d6f7c |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_4a4d6f7c |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_4a4d6f7c |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_4cd61d0e |
type |
Tropes in Shining Armor |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_4cd61d0e |
comment |
Tropes in Shining Armor |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_4cd61d0e |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_4cd61d0e |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_4cd61d0e |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_4eb04425 |
type |
Squeamish About Slaughter |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_4eb04425 |
comment |
Squeamish About Slaughter: His definition of Carnivorous suggests that Bierce might feel this way (not surprising if so, as he'd been in some of the bloodiest Civil War battles, and is widely thought to have suffered PTSD as a result). |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_4eb04425 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_4eb04425 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_4eb04425 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_5539b84f |
type |
Corrupt Church |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_5539b84f |
comment |
Corrupt Church: |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_5539b84f |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_5539b84f |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_5539b84f |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_5b1a2f4e |
type |
Ain't Too Proud to Beg |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_5b1a2f4e |
comment |
Ain't Too Proud to Beg: |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_5b1a2f4e |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_5b1a2f4e |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_5b1a2f4e |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_63c6a75c |
type |
Evil Lawyer Joke |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_63c6a75c |
comment |
Evil Lawyer Joke: |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_63c6a75c |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_63c6a75c |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_63c6a75c |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_641cf81d |
type |
Viewers Are Geniuses |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_641cf81d |
comment |
Viewers Are Geniuses: You need to be very well-educated in order to understand all the entries. There are several puns in Latin. Bierce makes a reference to the croaking chorus of The Frogs by Aristophanes. (Yes, the one referenced in the Major General Song.) |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_641cf81d |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_641cf81d |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_641cf81d |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_64b2ff00 |
type |
Jesus Was Way Cool |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_64b2ff00 |
comment |
Jesus Was Way Cool: Based on his definition of Christian and the poem attached, Bierce seemed to have this view of Jesus, despite his antipathy towards Christianity: |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_64b2ff00 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_64b2ff00 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_64b2ff00 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_65244998 |
type |
Lightning Can Do Anything |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_65244998 |
comment |
Lightning Can Do Anything: |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_65244998 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_65244998 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_65244998 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_674e8192 |
type |
Blind Obedience |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_674e8192 |
comment |
Blind Obedience: Bierce employs a poem to explain "Allegiance": |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_674e8192 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_674e8192 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_674e8192 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_678b0fa9 |
type |
Fair-Weather Friend |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_678b0fa9 |
comment |
Fair-Weather Friend: |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_678b0fa9 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_678b0fa9 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_678b0fa9 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_67edaf78 |
type |
Gargle Blaster |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_67edaf78 |
comment |
Gargle Blaster: |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_67edaf78 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_67edaf78 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_67edaf78 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_720e0c25 |
type |
Grave Robbing |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_720e0c25 |
comment |
Grave Robbing: |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_720e0c25 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_720e0c25 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_720e0c25 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_72e0023f |
type |
Invoked Trope |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_72e0023f |
comment |
Shrug of God |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_72e0023f |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_72e0023f |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_72e0023f |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_744e3311 |
type |
Police Brutality |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_744e3311 |
comment |
Police Brutality: |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_744e3311 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_744e3311 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_744e3311 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_7c77081d |
type |
Language Equals Thought |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_7c77081d |
comment |
Language Equals Thought: |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_7c77081d |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_7c77081d |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_7c77081d |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_867f06de |
type |
Duck Season, Rabbit Season |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_867f06de |
comment |
Duck Season, Rabbit Season: The poem describing Controversy includes the employment of this trope: |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_867f06de |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_867f06de |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_867f06de |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_86d4f985 |
type |
Doing In the Wizard |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_86d4f985 |
comment |
Doing In the Wizard: He defines a "halo" as an optical illusion caused by moisture in the air, similar to a rainbow. |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_86d4f985 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_86d4f985 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_86d4f985 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_89434320 |
type |
Protagonist-Centered Morality |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_89434320 |
comment |
Protagonist-Centered Morality: Several of the definitions fall into this category: |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_89434320 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_89434320 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_89434320 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_8b60a09b |
type |
Capitalism Is Bad |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_8b60a09b |
comment |
Capitalism Is Bad: |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_8b60a09b |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_8b60a09b |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_8b60a09b |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_8f4822fd |
type |
The Great Flood |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_8f4822fd |
comment |
The Great Flood: |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_8f4822fd |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_8f4822fd |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_8f4822fd |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_950bbfa7 |
type |
Take a Third Option |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_950bbfa7 |
comment |
Take a Third Option: Whenever confronted with two opposing worldviews (atheism and Christianity, communism and capitalism, rationalism and mysticism) Bierce typically heaped scorn on both. |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_950bbfa7 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_950bbfa7 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_950bbfa7 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_997d5872 |
type |
"Ass" in Ambassador |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_997d5872 |
comment |
"Ass" in Ambassador: May possibly apply since the consul was unable to win over voters. |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_997d5872 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_997d5872 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_997d5872 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_9efe71f9 |
type |
Babies, Babies Everywhere |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_9efe71f9 |
comment |
Babies, Babies Everywhere: |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_9efe71f9 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_9efe71f9 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_9efe71f9 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_a0f3c6a0 |
type |
Succubi and Incubi |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_a0f3c6a0 |
comment |
Succubi and Incubi: |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_a0f3c6a0 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_a0f3c6a0 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_a0f3c6a0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_a188ac4b |
type |
Overly Long Gag |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_a188ac4b |
comment |
Overly-Long Gag: The definition of infidel clearly follows this trope. |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_a188ac4b |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_a188ac4b |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_a188ac4b |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_a3c0d670 |
type |
Evil Chancellor |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_a3c0d670 |
comment |
Evil Chancellor: Yes, here, of all places. One appears in the poem after the definition for "Redundant." |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_a3c0d670 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_a3c0d670 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_a3c0d670 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_abe4d7b |
type |
Blue Blood |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_abe4d7b |
comment |
Blue Blood: |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_abe4d7b |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_abe4d7b |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_abe4d7b |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_ae4b1ce1 |
type |
Caustic Critic |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_ae4b1ce1 |
comment |
Caustic Critic: "A person who boasts himself hard to please because nobody tries to please him." |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_ae4b1ce1 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_ae4b1ce1 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_ae4b1ce1 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_ae853f28 |
type |
Parody |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_ae853f28 |
comment |
Parody: Of the dictionary of all things. |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_ae853f28 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_ae853f28 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_ae853f28 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_b3c0ed0c |
type |
Spoof Aesop |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_b3c0ed0c |
comment |
Spoof Aesop: The messages are intentionally negative and deeply cynical, e.g. marriage is a form of mutual slavery, religious people are all hypocrites etc. invoked |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_b3c0ed0c |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_b3c0ed0c |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_b3c0ed0c |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_b53077b3 |
type |
Take That! |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_b53077b3 |
comment |
Take That!: At Romanticism in general, but especially vicious against concepts of love and faith. For example, this very specific target: |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_b53077b3 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_b53077b3 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_b53077b3 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_b8e69f30 |
type |
Predation Is Natural |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_b8e69f30 |
comment |
Predation Is Natural: Bierce’s definition of Edible suggests this, with a “circle of life” spin to it. |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_b8e69f30 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_b8e69f30 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_b8e69f30 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_bb18a227 |
type |
It's All About Me |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_bb18a227 |
comment |
It's All About Me: When introducing the letter "I": |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_bb18a227 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_bb18a227 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_bb18a227 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_bcc9f4f7 |
type |
Realpolitik |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_bcc9f4f7 |
comment |
Realpolitik |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_bcc9f4f7 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_bcc9f4f7 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_bcc9f4f7 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_bef696dd |
type |
Mind Screw |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_bef696dd |
comment |
Mind Screw: In his definition of "Ubiquity", he writes "In recent times ubiquity has not always been understood—not even by Sir Boyle Roche, for example, who held that a man cannot be in two places at once unless he is a bird.". Yes, Roche really said that, if not in those exact words. And no, it didn't make any more sense then either. |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_bef696dd |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_bef696dd |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_bef696dd |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_c09e43d4 |
type |
Admiration Tropes |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_c09e43d4 |
comment |
Admiration Tropes: |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_c09e43d4 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_c09e43d4 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_c09e43d4 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_c25c7890 |
type |
Fun with Acronyms |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_c25c7890 |
comment |
Fun with Acronyms: |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_c25c7890 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_c25c7890 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_c25c7890 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_c71a2c4b |
type |
"Better if Not Born" Plot |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_c71a2c4b |
comment |
"Better if Not Born" Plot: These stories begin when The Protagonist adopts Bierce's definition of birth- "the first and direst of all disasters." |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_c71a2c4b |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_c71a2c4b |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_c71a2c4b |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_c93a6560 |
type |
Impaled with Extreme Prejudice |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_c93a6560 |
comment |
Impaled with Extreme Prejudice: |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_c93a6560 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_c93a6560 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_c93a6560 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_ccb636fe |
type |
Kraken and Leviathan |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_ccb636fe |
comment |
"Tadpole," as mentioned in the "Leviathan" entry, is implied to be derived from its Latin name, Thaddeus polandensis (Thaddeus of Poland). |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_ccb636fe |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_ccb636fe |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_ccb636fe |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_cf61bce5 |
type |
New Friend Envy |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_cf61bce5 |
comment |
New Friend Envy: |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_cf61bce5 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_cf61bce5 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_cf61bce5 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_d13d59a9 |
type |
Decisive Battle |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_d13d59a9 |
comment |
Decisive Battle: |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_d13d59a9 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_d13d59a9 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_d13d59a9 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_d171a8c1 |
type |
Evil Debt Collector |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_d171a8c1 |
comment |
Evil Debt Collector: |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_d171a8c1 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_d171a8c1 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_d171a8c1 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_d4689f3 |
type |
Sarcasm Failure |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_d4689f3 |
comment |
Sarcasm Failure: The comment for Riches: |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_d4689f3 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_d4689f3 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_d4689f3 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_d52d28b6 |
type |
Hypocrite |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_d52d28b6 |
comment |
Hypocrite: Many of the entries invoke this, such as the one for "Christian": Then of course there is the definition itself: |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_d52d28b6 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_d52d28b6 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_d52d28b6 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_d7d8e447 |
type |
Depraved Dentist |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_d7d8e447 |
comment |
Depraved Dentist: Less depraved than crooked. |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_d7d8e447 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_d7d8e447 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_d7d8e447 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_deecc9eb |
type |
Awful Wedded Life |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_deecc9eb |
comment |
Awful Wedded Life: But of course. |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_deecc9eb |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_deecc9eb |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_deecc9eb |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_e0c00a95 |
type |
Absurdly Sharp Blade |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_e0c00a95 |
comment |
Absurdly Sharp Blade: The entry for Scimetar recounts a Japanese executioner whose blade is so sharp the condemned man keeps his head until he blows his nose. When this fails to happen, he realizes he must have cut his own head off without realizing it. He promptly pulls it off in penance. |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_e0c00a95 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_e0c00a95 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_e0c00a95 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_eeaadd10 |
type |
From the Latin "Intro Ducere" |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_eeaadd10 |
comment |
From the Latin "Intro Ducere": Bierce makes a few jokes of this type: "Tedium" is alleged to derive "from a very obvious source—the first words of the ancient Latin hymn Te Deum Laudamus. In this apparently natural derivation there is something that saddens." "Tadpole," as mentioned in the "Leviathan" entry, is implied to be derived from its Latin name, Thaddeus polandensis (Thaddeus of Poland). |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_eeaadd10 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_eeaadd10 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_eeaadd10 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_f3594e1 |
type |
The All-Concealing "I" |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_f3594e1 |
comment |
The All-Concealing "I": Bierce states, "The frank yet graceful use of ‘I’ distinguishes a good writer from a bad; the latter carries with it the manner of a thief trying to cloak his loot." |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_f3594e1 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_f3594e1 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_f3594e1 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_f51c5f3c |
type |
Never Say "Die" |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_f51c5f3c |
comment |
Never Say "Die" |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_f51c5f3c |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_f51c5f3c |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_f51c5f3c |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_f6e05922 |
type |
Sarcastic Clapping |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_f6e05922 |
comment |
Sarcastic Clapping: |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_f6e05922 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_f6e05922 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_f6e05922 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_fa9cd4db |
type |
Democracy Is Bad |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_fa9cd4db |
comment |
Democracy Is Bad: Or, more aptly, voters are morons. |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_fa9cd4db |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_fa9cd4db |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_fa9cd4db |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_fb17af62 |
type |
Rhymes on a Dime |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_fb17af62 |
comment |
Rhymes on a Dime: Most of his poems. |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_fb17af62 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_fb17af62 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_fb17af62 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_fc39769d |
type |
Gunboat Diplomacy |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_fc39769d |
comment |
Gunboat Diplomacy: |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_fc39769d |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_fc39769d |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_fc39769d |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_name |
type |
ItemName |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_name |
comment |
|
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_name |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_name |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Devil's Dictionary |
hasFeature |
The Devil's Dictionary / int_name |
| | The Devil's Dictionary / int_name |
itemName |
The Devil's Dictionary |
