In our continuing quest to revisit a classic, or even a curiosity from the past and see how relevant it is, we continue with The Devil’s Dictionary by Ambrose Bierce. Originally published in newspaper installments from 1881 until 1906. You might be surprised how current many of the entries are.
For example, here is a definition for Abridge and Abrupt. The Old definition for each work is Bierce’s. The New definition is mine or somebody else contemporary. From time to time, just as it was originally published, we will come back to The Devil’s Dictionary, for a look at it then and how it applies today. Click on Devil’s Dictionary in the tags below to bring up the other entries.
OLD DEFINITIONS
Abridge, v.t. To shorten
When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for a people to abridge their king, a decent respect for the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. – Oliver Cromwell.
Abrupt, adj. Sudden, without ceremony, like the arrival a cannon-shot and the departure of the soldier whose interests are most affected by it. Dr. Samuel Johnson beautifully said of another author’s ideas that they were “concatenated without abruption.”
NEW DEFINITIONS
Abridge, v.t. To build to nowhere.
Something you do until the courts tell you you can’t when you’re mayor of a small Alaskan town.
Abrupt, adj. How truth arrives to a political campaign, often showing candidates that what they have is abridge-ment to nowhere.
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