Related:

• AFFIANCED, pp. Fitted with an ankle-ring for the ball-and-chain.
  -- Ambrose Bierce, "The Devil's Dictionary...
• Magpie, n.: A bird whose theivish disposition suggested to someone that it might be taught to talk.
  -- Ambrose Bierce, "The Devil's Dictionary...
• LONGANIMITY, n. The disposition to endure injury with meek forbearance while maturing a plan of revenge.
  -- Ambrose Bierce, "The Devil's Dictionary...
• Intimacy: A relation into which fools are providentially drawn for their mutual destruction.
  -- 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...
• Riot, n. A popular entertainment given to the military by innocent bystanders.
  -- Ambrose Bierce, "The Devil's Dictionary...
• REPARTEE, n. Prudent insult in retort. Practiced by gentlemen with a constitutional aversion to violence, but a strong disposition to offend.
  In a war of words, the tactics of the North American Indian....