A
absquatulate
8; run away; usually includes taking something or somebody along; 343;
Ace, Mr.
415; visitor from the future (Trespasser); 555;
Adam of Bremen
128; (also: Adam Bremensis) One of the most important German medieval chroniclers. He lived and worked in the second half of the 11th century. He is most famous for his chronicle Gesta Hammaburgensis Ecclesiae Pontificum (Deeds of Bishops of the Hamburg Church); Wikipedia entry
Adams, Maude (1872-1953)
338; American stage actress, most noted for her signature role, Peter Pan; Wikipedia entry
Addle, Ed
60; regular at Oil Well Saloon;
aeronaut: the pilot of a balloon or airship; Chicago World's Fair, 1893 and more here
Aether
55; 58; 132-133; 140; 306; 320; "sounds like light" 426; 458; 557;
aigrette
456; Aigrette (from the French for egret, or lesser white heron), the tufted crest, or head-plumes of the egret, used for adorning a woman's head-dress, the term being also given to any similar ornament, in gems, &c. An aigrette is also worn by certain ranks of officers in the French army. By analogy the word is used in various sciences for feathery excrescences of like appearance, as for the tufts on the heads of insects, the feathery down of the dandelion, the luminous rays at the end of electrified bodies, or the luminous rays seen in solar eclipses, diverging from, the moon's edge. Wikipedia entry
Akashi, Baron
294; "roving military attaché
akousmata
232; Greek: "things heard"; holds a much more secretive connotation like ‘signs’, or even perhaps ‘passwords’. These were explained as a set of rules of conduct used by the Pythagoreans. A few examples as given by Aristotle’s testimonies, like “abstain from beans as being due either to the fact that they resemble the genitals in shape, or because they resemble the gates of Hades." Also noted in this passage was “not to touch a white cock” and “not to touch any sacred fish” probably due to the earlier discussion on sacrifice.
alchemy
76-77; Alchemy refers to both an early form of the investigation of nature and an early philosophical and spiritual discipline, both combining elements of chemistry, metallurgy, physics, medicine, astrology, semiotics, mysticism, spiritualism, and art; and photography, 80; Wikipedia entry
Algernon
369; Ruperta's driver (?)
"All Pimps Look Alike to Me"
48; an 1896 barroom ditty that was "cleaned up" to become "All Coons Look Alike to Me" and recorded by Arthur Collins in 1899 and considered by some to be the First Rock 'n' Roll Record. Read the whole story...
Alphonsito
310; Jimmy Drop's lieutenant
America
219; "innocent, all but oppressively wholesome";
Arriaga, Camilo
381; potosino
Amsterdam
107; Indian Ocean island; Megaera shipwrecked, 108;
249; a curved mirror or other optical device for giving a correct image of a picture or the like distorted by anamorphosis; paramorphic, 249;
Anarchism
6; "the inexorable rising tide of World Anarchism..."; 37; 43; 49-51; 60; 66; 87; 175 (as terrorists); 179; bomb factory in London, 235; 370; Barcelona in 1890s, 372;
Anarcho-syndicalists
14; Anarcho-syndicalism is a branch of anarchism which focuses on the labor movement. Syndicalisme is a French word meaning "trade unionism" – hence, the "syndicalism" qualification. Anarcho-syndicalists view labor unions as a potential force for revolutionary social change, replacing capitalism and the State with a new society democratically self-managed by workers. Wikipedia entry
Anemometer
6; An instrument for measuring wind speed; Robinson anemometer, 6 Wikipedia entry
Angels
42; "Avenging Angels" 271; creatures, 277; H. Vanderjuice, 322; 332; birds, 336; 379; 389; 446; 531;
Anharmonic Pencil
455; a "pencil" in this context refers to a figure formed by a set of straight lines or light rays meeting at a point, a figure that is not harmonic, i.e., not a multiple of its component parts; 532;
Anti-Stone
78;
Apostles' Creed
58; The Apostles' Creed (circa 700 AD) (Latin: Symbolum Apostolorum), sometimes titled Symbol of the Apostles, is an early statement of Christian belief, a creed or "symbol." Wikipedia entry
Archer, Mr.
467;
argentaurum
375;
31; The Arkansas Toothpick is essentially a heavy dagger with a pointed, straight 12-20 inch blade. The "toothpick" is balanced and weighted for throwing and can also be used for thrusting and slashing. Wikipedia entry
arnophilia
211;
Arvin
264; in the Nonpareil;
aryq
441; The Russian Turcologists Malov and Tenishev mention a Western Yugur word Aryq, meaning Chinese or muslim Turk. This is a loanword from Tibetan, A-rig, the name of a country of nomadic herdsmen situated to the west of Amdo. It originally may have referred to the local Tibetan population. But Pynchon's use suggests it is a drink. Hmmm.
ässalamu äläykum
441; As-Salāmu `Alaykum (السلام عليكم) is an Arabic language greeting used in both Muslim and Christian cultures. It means "Peace be upon you." It is also transliterated as Assalamu 'Alaikum or As-salaamu Alaikum. The traditional response is "wa `Alaykum As-Salām", meaning "and peace on you". Wikipedia entry
"at silly point"
222; "silly point" is a position in the game of cricket, played close to the batsman
Aubergine, Madame
gives Reef Traverse dancing lessons in Denver;
142; The primeval cow. Audumla (Audhumla) was born from rime at Ginnungagap. The primeval giant Ymir (Aurgelmir) lived on the milk that flow from the cow's teats. Audumla also provided nourishment to Ymir's six-headed son. Audumla received nourishment through licking the salty rime-stones. Audumla licked the stone until it was shaped into a man. This stone became Buri, grandfather of the Aesir gods: Odin, Vili and Ve.
Aughrim
231; The Battle of Aughrim was the decisive battle of the Williamite War in Ireland. It was fought between the Jacobites and the forces of William III on 12 July 1691, near the village of Aughrim in County Galway; Wikipedia entry
August, Ernst
230; Duke of Cumberland
Automorphic Dispensation
453;
Avery
193;
Aziz, Abdel
520; "young sultan" in Morocco
Aztecs
394; "foundation story of the eagle and the serpent"
Aztlàn
214; "ghosts of..."; 277;
