IMPALE, v.t. In popular usage, to pierce with any weapon which remains fixed in the wound . . . . properly, to put to death by thrusting an upright sharp stake into the body, the victim being left in a sitting position.
Interpretation
The quote humorously defines a graphic and exaggerated interpretation of the word 'impale'.
Ambrose Bierce's definition of 'impale' combines the serious act of piercing with a sharp object with dark humor, depicting an absurd image of a victim left upright and undisturbed. This playful definition illustrates Bierce's satirical style in examining language, showing how the weight of words can be manipulated for comedic effect.
In practice
In a literature class discussing the use of dark humor, one might quote Bierce to illustrate the creative use of language.
PALM, n. A species of tree . . . of which the familiar "itching palm" ("Palma hominis") is most widely distributed . . . . This noble vegetable exudes a kind of invisible gum, which may be detected by applying to the bark a piece of gold or silver.
Human nature is pretty well balanced; for every lacking virtue there is a rough substitute that will serve at a pinch--as cunning is the wisdom of the unwise, and ferocity the courage of the coward.
Indigestion: A disease which the patient and his friends frequently mistake for deep religious conviction and concern for the salvation of mankind. As the simple Red Man of the Western Wild put it, with, it must be confessed, a certain force: 'Plenty well, no pray; big belly ache, heap God.'
Disobey n:To celebrate with an appropriate ceremony the maturity of a command
NOUMENON, n. That which exists, as distinguished from that which merely seems to exist, the latter being a phenomenon. The noumenon is a bit difficult to locate; it can be apprehended only by a process of reasoning - which is a phenomenon.
PARDON, v. To remit a penalty and restore to the life of crime. To add to the lure of crime the temptation of ingratitude.
Do you think God gets stoned? I think so ... look at the platypus.
If animals could speak, the dog would be a blundering outspoken fellow; but the cat would have the rare grace of never saying a word too much.
People come up to me in airports, they walk into the office, and they say, 'I'm going to cry; I'm going to pass out.' And I say, 'Please don't pass out; I'm not a doctor.'
I love the truth. It's the facts I'm not a fan of.
Nothing is funnier than unhappiness, I grant you that. Yes, yes, it's the most comical thing in the world.
A sense of humor is the ability to understand a joke-and that the joke is oneself.
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