Related:

• COURT FOOL, n. The plaintiff. -- Ambrose Bierce, "The Devil's Dictionary
• Cabbage, n.: A familiar kitchen-garden vegetable about as large and wise as a man's head.
  -- Ambrose Bierce, "The Devil's Dictionary...
• HUMANITY, n. The human race, collectively, exclusive of the anthropoid poets.
  -- Ambrose Bierce, "The Devil's Dictionary...
• INFLUENCE, n. In politics, a visionary _quo_ given in exchange for a substantial _quid_.
  -- Ambrose Bierce, "The Devil's Dictionary...
• MONARCH, n. A person engaged in reigning. Formerly the monarch ruled, as the derivation of the word attests, and as many subjects have had occasion to learn.
  In Russia and the Orient the monarch has still a considerable influence in public affairs and in the disposition of the human head, but in western Europe political administration is mostly entrusted to his ministers, he being somewhat preoccupied with reflections relating to the status of his own head....
• CANONICALS, n. The motley worm by Jesters of the Court of Heaven.
  -- Ambrose Bierce, "The Devil's Dictionary...
• LAUREATE, adj. Crowned with leaves of the laurel. In England the Poet Laureate is an officer of the sovereign's cou
  acting as dancing skeleton at every royal feast and singing-mute at every royal funeral....