100 words to know before reading Short Fiction by Edgar Allan Poe

1. A person who writes poetry.
2. Someone skilled in the art of verse.

the other boys wrote mere mechanical verses, Poe wrote genuine poetry; the boy was a born poet. As a scholar he was ambitious to excel. He was remarkable for self-respect, without haughtiness.

1. Worthy of attention; striking or unusual.
2. Exceptionally good or impressive.

of truth, did we judge from the amount of water which we usually find mixed with it. Remarkable experiences are usually confined to the inner life of imaginative men, but Mr. Poe’s biography

1. Belonging to you (archaic or poetic form of "your").
2. Short for "thyroid" in medical contexts (informal).

are such as few poets ever attain. There is a smack of ambrosia about it. To Helen Helen, thy beauty is to me Like those Nicean barks of yore, That gently, o’er a perfumed sea, The weary,

1. Partial or total darkness; dimness.
2. A state of melancholy or depression.

‘Fall of the House of Usher,’ or of ‘Mesmeric Revelations,’ we see in the solemn and stately gloom which invests one, and in the subtle metaphysical analysis of both, indications of the

1. Serious and sincere in intention or effort.
2. A token or payment given as a pledge or promise.

readers, and has become the type of a school of poetry of its own—and, in evident earnest, attributes its success to the few words of commendation with which we had prefaced it in this

1. Used as a reflexive pronoun to refer to a group previously mentioned.
2. Used for emphasis to refer to a group previously mentioned.

with the sagacity of a horse—but there were certain circumstances which intruded themselves per force upon the most skeptical and phlegmatic; and it is said there were times when the animal

1. Used to emphasize a statement or response.
2. Truly or certainly (often expressing agreement).

the Baron, as if slowly and deliberately impressed with the truth of some exciting idea. “Indeed;” repeated the vassal. “Shocking!” said the youth, calmly, and turned quietly into the château.

1. A spirited horse, especially for riding.
2. (Poetic/Literary) A horse, often used to convey grandeur or nobility.

stall. It was also to be observed, that although the three grooms, who had caught the steed as he fled from the conflagration at Berlifitzing, had succeeded in arresting his course, by

1. A person's face or facial expression.
2. Support or approval of something.

and that their circumstances were such as compelled her taking it upon herself. The countenance of this lady, made beautiful and saintly with an evidently complete giving up of her life to

1. A long, loose outer garment, often worn for warmth or ceremony.
2. A bathrobe, a loose garment worn after bathing or for lounging.

which thou sayest were made by Bourdon, are an excellent pair of linen drawers, and thy robe-de-chambre is a shroud of no scanty dimensions.” “Sir!” replied the Duc, “I am not to be insulted

1. A member of an ancient Jewish sect known for strict adherence to religious laws.
2. A hypocritical or self-righteous person (derogatory).

or sub-collectors of the offering, in the holy city of Jerusalem. “Verily,” replied the Pharisee; “let us hasten: for this generosity in the heathen is unwonted; and fickle-mindedness has ever

1. A disastrous event causing great damage or distress.
2. A state of deep distress or misery.

beseech you—been here some time myself—terrible accident!—heard of it, I suppose?—awful calamity!—walking under your windows—some short while ago—about the time you were

1. A person one knows slightly but not as a close friend.
2. Knowledge or experience of something.

respiration—dost thou, I say, presume to address me in the familiar language of an old acquaintance?—‘I lie,’ forsooth! and ‘hold my tongue,’ to be sure!—pretty conversation indeed, to a

1. A person who owns or manages a restaurant.
2. A professional skilled in the culinary and business aspects of running a dining establishment.

its way even with a beast; and I am willing to allow much in the outward man of the restaurateur calculated to impress the imagination of the quadruped. There is a peculiar majesty about the

1. A philosopher who studies metaphysics, the branch of philosophy concerned with the fundamental nature of reality.
2. A person who explores abstract concepts like existence, time, and causality.

sound from its stanchions of solid oak. It was in no placid temper, I say, that the metaphysician drew up his chair to its customary station by the hearth. Many circumstances of a perplexing

1. A French title of respect for a man, equivalent to "Mr." or "sir."
2. Used as a polite form of address for a man in French-speaking contexts.

bottle of Mousseux, and drew from the closet a larger supply of Chambertin. “But once, Monsieur Bon-Bon, but once. There was a time,” said the devil, as if reciting some passage from a

1. A sudden, involuntary spasm of the diaphragm causing a sharp intake of breath, often followed by a closing of the glottis.
2. A minor difficulty or setback.

much flattered. “That’s a lie!” repeated the restaurateur, dogmatically; “that’s a—hiccup!—a lie!” “Well, well, have it your own way!” said the devil, pacifically, and Bon-Bon, having

1. Being the only one of its kind; unique.
2. (Grammar) Referring to a form representing one person or thing.

all at the castle are positive in denying any knowledge of the horse.” “Extremely singular!” said the young Baron, with a musing air, and apparently unconscious of the meaning of his

1. A piece of fabric attached to a boat to catch wind and propel it forward.
2. To travel on water using sails or a sailing vessel.

of my fate, I unwittingly daubed with a tar-brush the edges of a neatly-folded studding-sail which lay near me on a barrel. The studding-sail is now bent upon the ship, and the thoughtless

1. An expression of sorrow, regret, or grief (interjection).
2. Unfortunately or sadly (adverb).

o’er the Past (Dim gulf!) my spirit hovering lies, Mute—motionless—aghast! For alas! alas! with me The light of life is o’er. “No more—no more—no more,” (Such language holds the solemn

1. A hard, crystalline metamorphic rock used in sculpture and architecture.
2. A small glass or stone ball used in children's games.

stirred even the folds of that raiment of very vapor which hung around it as the heavy marble hangs around the Niobe. Yet—strange to say!—her large lustrous eyes were not turned downwards

1. A noblewoman of high rank, especially in Italy.
2. The wife or widow of a marchese (Italian marquis).

as forming a part of the Old Republican prison, and as fronting the lattice of the Marchesa, a figure muffled in a cloak, stepped out within reach of the light, and, pausing a moment upon

1. The branch of medicine dealing with the classification of diseases.
2. The systematic arrangement or study of diseases based on their characteristics.

to follow my nose. I gave it a pull or two upon the spot, and wrote a pamphlet on Nosology forthwith. All Fum-Fudge was in an uproar. “Wonderful genius!” said the Quarterly. “Superb

1. A long, flexible snout or trunk, like that of an elephant.
2. A tubular feeding organ in some insects, such as butterflies.

I grant you that in Fum-Fudge the greatness of a lion is in proportion to the size of his proboscis—but, good heavens! there is no competing with a lion who has no proboscis at all.”

1. The height of an object or point relative to sea level or ground level.
2. A high or elevated position, often in a geographical context.

tons. Although upreared upon the summit of a wave more than a hundred times her own altitude, her apparent size exceeded that of any ship of the line or East Indiaman in existence. Her huge

1. Greatly surprised or amazed.
2. Filled with sudden wonder or disbelief.

with the sleeve of his coat, and deposited them in his pocket. If Bon-Bon had been astonished at the incident of the book, his amazement was now much increased by the spectacle which here

1. A destructive insect or animal that attacks crops, food, or livestock.
2. An annoying or harmful person or thing.

King Pest A Tale Containing an Allegory The gods do bear and will allow in kings The things which they

1. To an extreme or unusual degree; very.
2. Beyond normal limits; exceptionally.

at Sparta were a thousand temples and shrines to a thousand different divinities. How exceedingly strange that the altar of Laughter should have survived all the others! But in the present

1. A heavy-duty waterproof cloth used for covering and protecting objects.
2. A sailor's waterproof hat or coat.

up the points of their short doublets, they finally made a bolt for the street. Although Tarpaulin rolled twice into the fireplace, mistaking it for the door, yet their escape was at length

1. A box or container in which a deceased person is buried or cremated.
2. (Verb) To place or enclose something in a coffin.

house— struck me at that moment as a palpable lie. I knocked off, however, the lid of my coffin, and stepped out. The place was dreadfully dreary and damp, and I became troubled with ennui. By

1. A dense, black hardwood from tropical trees.
2. Deep black or dark brown in color.

attended us. All around were horror, and thick gloom, and a black sweltering desert of ebony. Superstitious terror crept by degrees into the spirit of the old Swede, and my own soul was

1. Left or went away from a place.
2. Deceased; no longer living.

I strived to decipher them, but in vain; while ever and anon, like the spirit of a departed sound, the shrill and piercing shriek of a female voice seemed to be ringing in my ears. I had

1. An archaic term for a giraffe, referring to its camel-like shape and leopard-like spots.
2. A mythical or poetic hybrid creature combining features of a camel and a leopard.

Four Beasts in One The Homo-Cameleopard Chacun a ses vertus. Crébillon’s Xerxes Antiochus Epiphanes is very generally looked upon as the

1. A sovereign ruler, such as a king or queen.
2. A large migratory butterfly with orange and black wings.

under pain of death, to intrude upon their dismal solitude. Yet neither the mandate of the monarch, nor the huge barriers erected at the entrances of the streets, nor the prospect of that

1. A French word meaning "thousand."
2. Used in phrases like "mille-feuille," a layered pastry.

ensued. “Diavolo!” cried Count Capricornutti. “Dios guarda!” muttered Don Stiletto. “Mille tonnerres!” ejaculated the Prince de Grenouille. “Tousand teufel!” growled the Elector of

1. A particular period of time in history or a person's life.
2. A unit of geologic time, longer than an age but shorter than a period.

his countenance, and a knowing wink of the eye to give evidence of his sagacity. At any epoch it would not be very wonderful if a humor so peculiar as the one I have just mentioned, should

1. Strange or unusual in a way that is surprising or noticeable.
2. Distinctive or unique to a particular person, place, or thing.

Poe, the most interesting and original figure in American letters. And, to signify that peculiar musical quality of Poe’s genius which inthralls every reader, Mr. Lowell suggested this

1. Flowering plants known for large, fragrant blooms.
2. Symbolize purity, renewal, or devotion in various cultures.

shudder quivers about her delicate frame, as a gentle air at Napoli about the rich silver lilies in the grass. Why should that lady blush! To this demand there is no answer—except that, having

1. The state of being alone without companions.
2. A peaceful or isolated place.

shelter of the lilies, and observed the actions of the man. And the man trembled in the solitude;—but the night waned, and he sat upon the rock. “And the man turned his attention from the

1. Weak or lacking strength (physical or mental).
2. Faint or lacking intensity (e.g., light, sound).

not yield him to the angels, nor unto death utterly, save only through the weakness of his feeble will.” Length of years and subsequent reflection have enabled me to trace, indeed, some remote

1. The human soul, mind, or spirit.
2. In psychology, the totality of mental processes.

am I. Dr. Moneypenny always calls me the Queen of the Hearts)—and that Zenobia, as well as Psyche, is good Greek, and that my father was “a Greek,” and that consequently I have a right to our

1. Physical feelings or perceptions from stimuli (e.g., touch, taste).
2. Strong emotions or excitement.

that, as the body should become habituated to the want of atmospheric pressure, the sensations of pain would gradually diminish—and to endure them while they continued, I relied with

1. A historic city in southern England, known for its naval heritage.
2. A nickname for Portsmouth Football Club.

hour of the fourth watch, being sunrise; and the idolaters, in fulfilment of the promise of Pompey, should be awaiting us with the lambs for the sacrifices.” Simeon, Abel-Phittim, and

1. A tall tower on a church, often topped with a spire.
2. A pointed structure or peak resembling a church steeple.

at length make a final separation from my body. It first rolled down the side of the steeple, then lodge, for a few seconds, in the gutter, and then made its way, with a plunge, into the

1. A bell tower, often part of a church or other building.
2. The part of a tower or steeple where bells are hung.

me headlong, together with himself, upon the hard, filthy, and detestable floor of the belfry. But my revenge was sure, sudden, and complete. Seizing him furiously by the wool with both

1. A town or district with its own local government.
2. One of the five administrative divisions of New York City.

knows, in a general way, that the finest place in the world is—or, alas, was—the Dutch borough of Vondervotteimittiss. Yet as it lies some distance from any of the main roads, being in a

1. A military commission giving a higher rank without the corresponding pay.
2. A document granting certain privileges, such as a patent or license.

much reason, upon the very flattering state of affairs. If any person knew anything about Brevet Brigadier-General John A. B. C. Smith, that person, it was clear to me, was Miss Tabitha T. We

1. A person who shows people to their seats in a theater or event.
2. To guide or escort someone somewhere.

varied powers. As an example of his style we would refer to one of his tales, “The House of Usher,” in the first volume of his Tales of the Grotesque and Arabesque. It has a singular charm for

1. A small mountain lake formed in a cirque by glacial erosion.
2. A dark or discolored area, often on metal or glass.

and, acting upon this idea, I reined my horse to the precipitous brink of a black and lurid tarn that lay in unruffled lustre by the dwelling, and gazed down—but with a shudder even more

1. A feeling of great surprise or amazement.
2. The state of being astonished or shocked.

cetera—et cetera—et cetera—et cetera—” It is impossible to conceive my astonishment at so unexpected a discourse, or the joy with which I became gradually convinced that the breath

1. A celestial object with a glowing nucleus and tail, made of ice, dust, and gas, orbiting the sun.
2. A fast-moving vehicle, especially a racing car or aircraft.

In other words, the sun’s attraction would be constantly attaining greater power, and the comet would be drawn nearer at every revolution. Indeed, there is no other way of accounting for the

1. An exclamation expressing surprise or emphasis (Scottish).
2. A variant of "och aye," meaning "oh yes" (Scottish).

spalpeen Mounseer Maiter-di-dauns that plumped his silf right down by the right side of her. Och hon! I ixpicted the two eyes o’ me wud ha cum’d out of my head on the spot, I was so dispirate

1. A term for a gallows or hanging noose, derived from "widow."
2. A dialectal term for a willow tree or its branches.

tan escondida Query no te senty venny Pork and pleasure, delly morry Nommy, torny, darry, widdy! But now a new horror presented itself, and one indeed sufficient to startle the strongest

1. A humorous or derogatory term for a Frenchman.
2. An old-fashioned or mocking way to refer to someone French.

wou,” says he, “Pully wou,” says he, “Plump in the mud,” says he. “That’s all to no use, Mounseer Frog, mavourneen,” thinks I; and I talked as hard and as fast as I could all the while, and

1. Deep regret or sorrow for wrongdoing (noun).
2. To feel remorse or guilt (verb).

and in Paris these are easily obtained. Our first meeting was at an obscure library in the Rue Montmartre, where the accident of our both being in search of the same very rare and very

1. A place where dead bodies are kept for identification or autopsy.
2. A newspaper's archive of past articles and reference materials.

clue.” The next day’s paper had these additional particulars. “The Tragedy in the Rue Morgue.—Many individuals have been examined in relation to this most extraordinary and frightful

1. Barely; almost not at all.
2. Only just; by a very small margin.

under painful circumstances at Baltimore, October 7, 1849, his whole literary career of scarcely fifteen years a pitiful struggle for mere subsistence, his memory malignantly misrepresented by

1. To spin or rotate rapidly.
2. A state of confusion or commotion.

fact is necessary than can be obtained from even the sidelong glance into the abyss of the whirl which may be had from the highest crag of Helseggen. Looking down from this pinnacle upon the

1. Short for "mononucleosis," a viral infection causing fever and swollen lymph nodes.
2. Informal term for "monosaccharides," simple sugars like glucose.

The Colloquy of Monos and Una Μελλοντα ταυτα. “These things are in the near future.” Sophocles, Antig. Una “Born

1. A throat-clearing sound to get attention or express hesitation.
2. Used to introduce a statement or remark, often humorously or awkwardly.

to make any remark, however, upon so singular a circumstance, he interrupted me with a second “ahem!” To this observation I was not immediately prepared to reply. The fact is, remarks of this

1. A solemn promise or pledge, often made to a deity or another person.
2. A formal commitment to a religious or marital state.

world. And, then and there, I threw myself hurriedly at the feet of Eleonora, and offered up a vow, to herself and to Heaven, that I would never bind myself in marriage to any daughter of

1. The reflexive form of "you," referring to the person being addressed.
2. Used to emphasize the subject "you."

to open ones mouth—to be able to expatiate—to be able to communicate with a person like yourself, who do not think yourself called upon at every period to interrupt the thread of a gentleman’s

1. To talk excessively or foolishly (verb).
2. A surname of English origin.

it only makes the matter more remarkable, Doctor Dubble L. Dee—” Kate “Why, papa, Captain Pratt went round Cape Horn, and Captain Smitherton doubled the Cape of Good Hope.” Uncle

1. A strong desire to achieve success or distinction.
2. The determination to reach a goal.

my purposes, were not more pointed than private. He appeared to be destitute alike of the ambition which urged, and of the passionate energy of mind which enabled me to excel. In his rivalry he

1. Relating to poetry; having the qualities of verse.
2. Expressive, imaginative, or aesthetically pleasing in a lyrical way.

agility, do think it no more than their duty to invest his brows (in addition to the poetic crown) with the wreath of victory in the footrace—a wreath which it is evident he must obtain at

1. Made or produced by humans rather than occurring naturally.
2. Not genuine; fake or insincere.

of molten silver, the beams of natural glory mingled at length fitfully with the artificial light, and lay weltering in subdued masses upon a carpet of rich, liquid-looking cloth of Chile

1. To cite as evidence or proof in an argument.
2. To bring forward in support or justification.

in the wild train of circumstances brought to instance Dupin’s idiosyncrasy. I might have adduced other examples, but I should have proven no more. Late events, however, in their surprising

1. A title of respect for a woman, equivalent to "Mrs." or "Madam."
2. Used to address or refer to a woman in a formal or polite manner.

It had no contents beyond a few old letters, and other papers of little consequence. “Of Madame L’Espanaye no traces were here seen; but an unusual quantity of soot being observed in the

1. A senior student with authority in some schools.
2. A chief officer or magistrate in ancient Rome.

monarchy. In the flourishing times of the Roman Empire, it was the ordinary station of the prefect of the eastern provinces; and many of the emperors of the queen city (among whom may be

1. A weight hung from a fixed point so it can swing freely under gravity.
2. A device used in clocks to regulate movement.

all my ordinary powers of mind. I was an imbecile—an idiot. The vibration of the pendulum was at right angles to my length. I saw that the crescent was designed to cross the region of the

1. A term historically used to refer to a person of Black African descent.
2. Considered outdated and offensive in modern usage, replaced by terms like "Black" or "African American."

innocence to the interesting animal which rendered her a favorite with all. And Pompey, my negro!—sweet Pompey! how shall I ever forget thee? I had taken Pompey’s arm. He was three feet in

1. A dung beetle, especially the sacred scarab of ancient Egypt.
2. A symbol of rebirth and regeneration in Egyptian mythology.

skull, according to the vulgar notions about such specimens of physiology—and your scarabaeus must be the queerest scarabaeus in the world if it resembles it. Why, we may get up a very

1. A dwarf planet in the Solar System, formerly classified as the ninth planet.
2. The Roman god of the underworld, equivalent to the Greek god Hades.

the matter at all for no better reason than that it happens, just now, to be remembered. Pluto—this was the cat’s name—was my favorite pet and playmate. I alone fed him, and he attended me

1. Engaging in petty cheating or swindling.
2. Wasting time or dawdling.

Diddling Considered as One of the Exact Sciences Hey, diddle diddle The cat and the fiddle Since the world

1. To cheat or swindle someone (verb).
2. To waste time or dawdle (verb).

Diddling Considered as One of the Exact Sciences Hey, diddle diddle The cat and the fiddle Since the world began there have been two Jeremys. The one wrote a

1. A person who cheats or swindles others, especially in small amounts.
2. A slang term for someone who engages in petty theft or deception.

a Mastodon to a mouse—as the tail of a comet to that of a pig. Interest:—Your diddler is guided by self-interest. He scorns to diddle for the mere sake of the diddle. He has an object

1. Relating to or producing a hypnotic or spellbinding effect.
2. Captivating or fascinating in a way that holds attention.

survives the person. While we read the pages of the ‘Fall of the House of Usher,’ or of ‘Mesmeric Revelations,’ we see in the solemn and stately gloom which invests one, and in the subtle

1. A colorless, volatile liquid used as a solvent and anesthetic.
2. The upper regions of space; the clear sky.

of mind. It was seen that Mr. Stapleton was alive, although in a swoon. Upon exhibition of ether he revived and was rapidly restored to health, and to the society of his friends—from whom,

1. Basic or fundamental (adjective).
2. Related to early or undeveloped stages (adjective).

we are palpably cognizant. V. We, certainly—but not the worm. The matter of which our rudimental body is composed, is within the ken of the organs of that body; or, more distinctly, our

1. A shape longer than it is wide, with straight sides and rounded ends.
2. An elongated rectangle or oval.

corners had been, by some accident, destroyed, it could be seen that the original form was oblong. It was just such a slip, indeed, as might have been chosen for a memorandum—for a record of

1. A prefix meaning "before" or "in front of" (e.g., vanguard).
2. Short for "versus" in informal contexts (e.g., "Team A vs Team B").

he evidently intended for intelligible talk. “I zay,” said he, “you mos pe dronk as de pig, vor zit dare and not zee me zit ere; and I zay, doo, you mos pe pigger vool as de goose, vor to

1. A nickname for the name Charles.
2. A term for a horse, especially in British slang.

were next-door neighbours, and, although Mr. Shuttleworthy seldom, if ever, visited “Old Charley,” and never was known to take a meal in his house, still this did not prevent the two friends

1. A small tool or device, often mechanical or electronic.
2. To move restlessly or aimlessly from place to place.

regarded the disposal I should make of it. My father suggested that I should send it to the Gad-Fly—but there were two reasons which operated to prevent me from so doing. I dreaded the

1. Short for "human," referring to people.
2. A low, steady continuous sound like a murmur or buzz.

After that, the sound of the inquisitorial voices seemed merged in one dreamy indeterminate hum. It conveyed to my soul the idea of revolution—perhaps from its association in fancy with the

1. A unit of measurement for the thickness of yarn or thread.
2. A town in Poland, also known as Dąbrowa Górnicza.

not to be insulted with impunity.” This made an end of me; and as for the Hum-Drum, the Rowdy-Dow, and the Lollipop, I never could comprehend how they survived it. The putting them in the

1. A short, quick burst of air or smoke.
2. A soft, round piece of pastry filled with cream or jam.

Each, too, has a pipe in his mouth, and a little dumpy watch in his right hand. He takes a puff and a look, and then a look and a puff. The pig—which is corpulent and lazy—is occupied now in

1. A preserved dead body, especially from ancient Egypt.
2. (Informal) A term of endearment for one's mother, chiefly British.

Some Words with a Mummy The symposium of the preceding evening had been a little too much for my nerves. I had a wretched

1. Preserved (a dead body) using chemicals to delay decay.
2. Treated with preservatives to maintain appearance or condition.

with numerous identical human figures, intended, very probably, as portraits of the persons embalmed. Extending from head to foot was a columnar, or perpendicular, inscription, in phonetic

1. Relating to Egypt, its people, or culture.
2. A native or inhabitant of Egypt.

imagine you to the manor born—you, I say who have been so much among us that you speak Egyptian fully as well, I think, as you write your mother tongue—you, whom I have always been led to

1. A sudden strong urge or desire to act.
2. A brief force or push causing motion.

backed by three or four desperate and fatal rencounters at G——n, had given new vigor and impulse; and thus the conversation, during the greater part of the night, had run wild upon the

1. A person who is mentally ill or unstable (archaic or offensive).
2. Someone who behaves in a wildly foolish or reckless manner.

upon securing the object in view. Soon afterwards I bade him farewell. The pretended lunatic was a man in my own pay.” “But what purpose had you,” I asked, “in replacing the letter by a

1. Calming or comforting to the senses or emotions.
2. Reducing pain, discomfort, or agitation.

would shortly return. He begged me not to be impatient—to moderate my transports—to read soothing books—to drink nothing stronger than Hock—and to bring the consolations of philosophy to my

1. A type of dry sherry wine from Spain, aged longer than fino but less than oloroso.
2. A fortified wine with a nutty flavor, often used in cooking or enjoyed as an aperitif.

The Cask of Amontillado The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could; but when he ventured upon insult,

1. An expert or authority in a particular subject, often providing opinions or commentary.
2. A learned person or scholar, especially in Hinduism.

me for quoting the Etruscan. What would we do without the Atalantic telegraph? (Pundit says Atlantic was the ancient adjective.) We lay to a few minutes to ask the cutter some

1. A small, tailless amphibian with moist skin and long hind legs for leaping.
2. A device used to hold objects, such as flower stems or horse hooves, in place.

O’Grandison, mavourneen;” so I just ripped out wid a big oath, and says I: “Ye little spalpeeny frog of a bog-throtting son of a bloody noun!”—and jist thin what d’ye think it was that her

1. A professional clown or entertainer in medieval courts.
2. Someone who jokes or mocks in a playful or teasing manner.

are!” And now, while the whole assembly (the apes included) were convulsed with laughter, the jester suddenly uttered a shrill whistle; when the chain flew violently up for about thirty

1. Large, intelligent apes native to rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra.
2. Known for their reddish-brown fur and long arms.

Your majesty cannot conceive the effect produced, at a masquerade, by eight chained orangutans, imagined to be real ones by most of the company; and rushing in with savage cries, among the

1. A newspaper or official journal, especially one published by a government or organization.
2. To publish or announce something officially in a gazette.

Théâtre des Variétés.” Not long after this, we were looking over an evening edition of the Gazette des Tribunaux, when the following paragraphs arrested our attention. “Extraordinary

1. A skilled worker who supervises and directs other workers.
2. The leader of a jury who speaks for the group.

for “copy,” and simply requesting his foreman to “go to the d——l,” when he (the foreman) assured him (the Teapot!) that it was high time to “go to press”: turning a deaf ear to

1. A valley (often used in place names).
2. Farewell (archaic or poetic term for goodbye).

The Assignation Stay for me there! I will not fail To meet thee in that hollow vale. Exequy on the Death of His Wife, by Henry King, Bishop of Chichester Ill-fated and mysterious