Ambrose Bierce

The Cynic's Word Book Ambrose Bierce

BAAL, n. A deity formerly much worshipped under various names. As Baal he was popularwith the Phoenicians; as Belus or Bel he had the honor to be served by the priest Berosus, who wrote the famous account of the Deluge; as Babel he had a tower partly erected to hisglory on the Plain of Shinar. From Babel comes our English word "babble." Under whatevername worshipped, Baal is the Sun-god. As Beelzebub he is the god of flies, which arebegotten of the sun's rays on stagnant water. In Physicia Baal is still worshipped as Bolus, and as Belly he is adored and served with abundant sacrifice by the priests of Guttle andSwig. BABB, or BABY, n. A misshapen creature of no particular age, sex, or condition, chieflyremarkable for the violence of the sympathies and antipathies it excites in others, itselfwithout sentiment or emotion. There have been famous babes; for example, little Moses, from whose adventure in the bulrushes the Egyptian hierophants of seven centuries beforedoubtless derived their idle tale of the child Osiris being preserved on a floating lotus le