ASS

p>Below the term “ASS” from the Devil’s Dictionary by Ambrose Bierce.

I placed this term (and I am still working on placing each and every of the close to 1000 terms of the Devils Dictionary) on a seperate page that you can easily share in your social networks.

But this is only on part of the story: Feel free to comment on the terms, to shed lights about persons mentioned, to write your own defintion – now that more 100 years have gone by since the publishing of the Devil’s Dictionary. If you have images that could contribute to this common adventure – please get in contact with me via email – dictionarynet123@gmail.com.


ASS, n. A public singer with a good voice but no ear. In Virginia
City, Nevada, he is called the Washoe Canary, in Dakota, the Senator,
and everywhere the Donkey. The animal is widely and variously
celebrated in the literature, art and religion of every age and
country; no other so engages and fires the human imagination as this
noble vertebrate. Indeed, it is doubted by some (Ramasilus, lib.
II., De Clem.
, and C. Stantatus, De Temperamente) if it is not a
god; and as such we know it was worshiped by the Etruscans, and, if we
may believe Macrobious, by the Cupasians also. Of the only two
animals admitted into the Mahometan Paradise along with the souls of
men, the ass that carried Balaam is one, the dog of the Seven Sleepers
the other. This is no small distinction. From what has been written
about this beast might be compiled a library of great splendor and
magnitude, rivalling that of the Shakespearean cult, and that which
clusters about the Bible. It may be said, generally, that all
literature is more or less Asinine.

"Hail, holy Ass!" the quiring angels sing;
"Priest of Unreason, and of Discords King!"
Great co-Creator, let Thy glory shine:
God made all else, the Mule, the Mule is thine!"

G.J.

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