Absolute

Walden · Post by **Walden** » Tue Jul 05, 2005 8:18 am

ABSOLUTE, adj. Independent, irresponsible. An absolute monarchy is
one in which the sovereign does as he pleases so long as he pleases
the assassins. Not many absolute monarchies are left, most of them
having been replaced by limited monarchies, where the sovereign's
power for evil (and for good) is greatly curtailed, and by republics,
which are governed by chance.

-- Ambrose Bierce (in The Cynic's Word Book, 1906)

Joseph E. Smith · Post by **Joseph E. Smith** » Tue Jul 05, 2005 8:46 am

"Aboslut Vodka corrupts absoltely...."

- JESmith, from Hangoverville FL.

SteveShaw · Post by **SteveShaw** » Tue Jul 05, 2005 8:52 am

Do you mean "Abshlut vodka corruptsh abshlootly knoworramean?"

Steve

Joseph E. Smith · Post by **Joseph E. Smith** » Tue Jul 05, 2005 10:18 am

SteveShaw wrote:Do you mean "Abshlut vodka corruptsh abshlootly knoworramean?"

Steve

Aye, fooorshooorsh!

anniemcu · Post by **anniemcu** » Tue Jul 05, 2005 10:28 am

SteveShaw wrote:Do you mean "Abshlut vodka corruptsh abshlootly knoworramean?"

Steve

Yesh... I stink dash exhactly warrymeansh...

Wombat · Post by **Wombat** » Tue Jul 05, 2005 10:50 am

For those of you who aren't familiar with Bierce, the Cynic's Word Book consists of bits and pieces of what was shortly to become The Devil's Dictionary.

I'm sure Walden would have got around to warning you eventually.

carrie · Post by **carrie** » Tue Jul 05, 2005 11:00 am

I've always been fond of the closest English equivalent to the Latin ablative absolute, my tastes having been formed by writers who use it. *ahem*

Carol

Wombat · Post by **Wombat** » Tue Jul 05, 2005 11:08 am

cskinner wrote:I've always been fond of the closest English equivalent to the Latin ablative absolute, my tastes having been formed by writers who use it. *ahem*

Carol

I like to ablute absolutely too.

The Weekenders · Post by **The Weekenders** » Tue Jul 05, 2005 11:13 am

Absotively!

Walden · Post by **Walden** » Tue Jul 05, 2005 7:55 pm

Wombat wrote:For those of you who aren't familiar with Bierce, the Cynic's Word Book consists of bits and pieces of what was shortly to become The Devil's Dictionary.

I'm sure Walden would have got around to warning you eventually.

Once, when I was reading a biographical sketch on Bierce, it said he was a satirist, and on first glance I thought it said satanist.

Jack · Post by **Jack** » Tue Jul 05, 2005 10:32 pm

Walden wrote:
Wombat wrote:For those of you who aren't familiar with Bierce, the Cynic's Word Book consists of bits and pieces of what was shortly to become The Devil's Dictionary.

I'm sure Walden would have got around to warning you eventually.

Once, when I was reading a biographical sketch on Bierce, it said he was a satirist, and on first glance I thought it said satanist.

I've always thought "Ambrose" sounded like a woman's name, and in my head I picture Ambrose Bierce as an older red-headed librarian-type of lady who's favourite hobby is thinking and chewing on her eyeglasses.

gonzo914 · Post by **gonzo914** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 4:34 am

Here you go -- links to more Bierce scribblings than you can read in a whole day -- http://donswaim.com/bierce.resources.html

The Devil's Dictionary is keen sport and has more than a grain of truth in it, albeit a cynical grain of truth.

But the short stories are well worth a read, too.

I like Bierce; he contributed greatly to both my vocabulary and my generally crappy outlook on my fellow man.

Flyingcursor · Post by **Flyingcursor** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 5:28 am

gonzo914 wrote:Here you go -- links to more Bierce scribblings than you can read in a whole day -- http://donswaim.com/bierce.resources.html

The Devil's Dictionary is keen sport and has more than a grain of truth in it, albeit a cynical grain of truth.

But the short stories are well worth a read, too.

I like Bierce; he contributed greatly to both my vocabulary and my generally crappy outlook on my fellow man.

Me too! I think today we might conclude he suffered a case of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

I might add that "Occurance at Owl Creek Bridge" and "Chickamauga" are two of my favorite stories ever.

GaryKelly · Post by **GaryKelly** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 5:40 am

Absolute: Aniseed-flavoured green stringed instrument.

SteveK · Post by **SteveK** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 5:55 am

GaryKelly wrote:Absolute: Aniseed-flavoured green stringed instrument.

They're pretty cool but have you tried a resolute. That's the resophonic one.

Steve