The Devil’s Dictionary994 terms |
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B3
- Behavior
- n. Conduct, as determined, not by principle, but by
breeding. The word seems to be somewhat loosely used in Dr. Jamrach
Holobom’s translation of the following lines from the Dies Irae:
Recordare, Jesu pie,
Quod sum causa tuae viae.
Ne me perdas illa die.Pray remember, sacred Savior,
Whose the thoughtless hand that gave your
Death-blow. Pardon such behavior. - Belladonna
- n. In Italian a beautiful lady; in English a deadly poison. A striking example of the essential identity of the two tongues.
- Benedictines
- n. An order of monks otherwise known as black friars.
She thought it a crow, but it turn out to be
“The Devil on Earth” (London, 1712)
A monk of St. Benedict croaking a text.
“Here’s one of an order of cooks,” said she —
“Black friars in this world, fried black in the next.” - Benefactor
- n. One who makes heavy purchases of ingratitude, without, however, materially affecting the price, which is still within the means of all.
- Berenice’s Hair
- n. A constellation (Coma Berenices) named in honor
of one who sacrificed her hair to save her husband.
Her locks an ancient lady gave
Her loving husband’s life to save;
And men — they honored so the dame —
Upon some stars bestowed her name.But to our modern married fair,
G.J.
Who’d give their lords to save their hair,
No stellar recognition’s given.
There are not stars enough in heaven. - Bigamy
- n. A mistake in taste for which the wisdom of the future will adjudge a punishment called trigamy.
- Bigot
- n. One who is obstinately and zealously attached to an opinion that you do not entertain.
- Billingsgate
- n. The invective of an opponent.
- Birth
- n. The first and direst of all disasters. As to the nature of it there appears to be no uniformity. Castor and Pollux were born from the egg. Pallas came out of a skull. Galatea was once a block of stone. Peresilis, who wrote in the tenth century, avers that he grew up out of the ground where a priest had spilled holy water. It is known that Arimaxus was derived from a hole in the earth, made by a stroke of lightning. Leucomedon was the son of a cavern in Mount Aetna, and I have myself seen a man come out of a wine cellar.