
THE DEVIL’S DICTIONARY - by Ambrose Bierce
CONTENTS
AUTHOR'S PREFACE
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
A mischievous compendium of bite‑size definitions, this work turns ordinary language on its head, presenting familiar words with a razor‑sharp twist. Each entry reads like a brief satire, exposing the absurdities of politics, religion, and human vanity while keeping a deadpan, scholarly tone. The author’s footnotes and quoted verses add a faux‑academic veneer, making the humor feel both erudite and delightfully subversive. Listeners will find themselves smiling at the way “abdication” becomes a royal sauna and “ability” is reduced to solemnity.
The collection invites you to linger over each definition as if it were a miniature essay, offering a steady stream of clever turns of phrase that echo through everyday conversation. Its delight lies in the way the lexicon mirrors society’s contradictions, rewarding attentive ears with fresh ways to see the world. Whether you’re a lover of wordplay or simply enjoy sharp wit, the experience feels like a private joke shared with a clever, slightly cynical friend.
Language
en
Duration
~6 hours (359K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Aloysius and David Widger
Release date
1997-07-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1842–1913
A master of sharp wit and dark imagination, this American writer turned the violence of the Civil War and a lifelong journalist’s eye into stories that still feel startlingly modern. He is best remembered for haunting tales like An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge and for the biting satire of The Devil’s Dictionary.
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