Initially a weekly feature in an American newspaper in 1881, The Devil's Dictionary was continued with some intervals until 1906, when it was first published as The Cynic's Word Book. Typical entries include: 'fly', a monster of the air owing allegiance to Beelzebub; 'kill', to create a vacacy without nominating a successor; and 'rhubarb', vegetable essence of stomach ache. A humorous perspective of the English language at the turn of the 20th century, the book has a new introduction to give a modern view of the book and its importance in literature.