The Devil's Dictionary Turns 100

One hundred and five years ago, in 1906, a book written by the infamous curmudgeon Ambrose Bierce was published as The Cynicâ??s Word Book. It was Bierceâ??s preference that the book â?? a collection of satirical definitions which he had written for various newspapers â??in a desultory way at long intervalsâ? from 1881 to 1906 â?? be called The Devilâ??s Dictionary, but publishers had always been nervous about the anti-religious implications of the title.