Devil\'s Dictionary by Ambrose Bierce [PDF e-book] torrent

The Devil's Dictionary by the great American literary figure Ambrose Bierce is full of unusual and thought-provoking descriptions for common words.

Sample Definitions

ALLIANCE, n. In international politics, the union of two thieves who have their hands so deeply inserted in each other's pockets that they cannot separately plunder a third.

BRIDE, n. A woman with a fine prospect of happiness behind her.

CLAIRVOYANT, n. A person, commonly a woman, who has the power of seeing that which is invisible to her patron, namely, that he is a blockhead.

DEBAUCHEE, n. One who has so earnestly pursued pleasure that he has had the misfortune to overtake it.

EXTINCTION, n. The raw material out of which theology created the future state.

FEMALE, n. One of the opposing, or unfair, sex.

GUILLOTINE, n. A machine which makes a Frenchman shrug his shoulders with good reason.

HAPPINESS, n. An agreeable sensation arising from contemplating the misery of another.

IGNORAMUS, n. A person unacquainted with certain kinds of knowledge familiar to yourself, and having certain other kinds that you know nothing about.$