AtDDtA(15): Mr. Ace

[robinlandseadel at comcast.net]

Let's not forget the unique position of the Ace in the Tarot, as well. . . .
 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: "Dave Monroe" <against.the.dave at gmail.com>
>    "Abruptly, sweeping into the scene like an opera singer with an
> aria to unload, here came 'Mr. Ace,' as he called himself.  Glossy
> black eyes, presented like weapons in a duel.  The gently damaged,
> irrevocably educated eyes we associate with the visiting dead.  When
> he smiled, or attempted to, it was not reassuring.
>    "Dispensing with phatic chitchat, he began straightway to tell the
> story of his 'people.'" (AtD, Pt.II, pp. 414-5)
> 
> 
> "Mr. Ace"
> 
> Main Entry: ace
> Pronunciation: 'As
> Function: noun
> Etymology: Middle English as, from Anglo-French, from Latin, unit, a copper coin
> 1 a : a die face marked with one spot b : a playing card marked in its
> center with one pip c : a domino end marked with one spot
> 2 : a very small amount or degree : PARTICLE
> 3 : a point scored especially on a service (as in tennis or handball)
> that an opponent fails to touch
> 4 : a golf score of one stroke on a hole; also : a hole made in one stroke
> 5 : a combat pilot who has brought down at least five enemy airplanes
> 6 a : a person who excels at something <a computer ace> b : the best
> pitcher on a baseball team <the ace of the staff>
> - ace in the hole
> 1 : an ace dealt face down to a player (as in stud poker) and not
> exposed until the showdown
> 2 : an effective and decisive argument or resource held in reserve
> - within an ace of : on the point of : very near to <came within an
> ace of winning>
> 
> Main Entry: ace
> Function: transitive verb
> Inflected Form(s): aced; ac·ing
> 1 : to score an ace against (an opponent)
> 2 : to make (a hole in golf) in one stroke
> 3 : to gain a decisive advantage over : DEFEAT -- usually used with out
> 4 a : to earn a high grade on (as an examination); especially : to get
> an A on b : to perform extremely well in <he aced every subject>
> 
> Main Entry: ace
> Function: adjective
> : of first or high rank or quality <an ace mechanic>
> 
> http://m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary
> 
> Mr. A
> 
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._A
> 
> http://www.dialbforblog.com/archives/298/
> 
> Master race; ace of spades; mysteries; Mr Earl?
> Ace is used to mean a first-rate flyboy, a flying ace.
> Ace originally meant the side of a die with only one mark, before it
> was a term for a playing card. Since this was the lowest roll of the
> die, it traditionally meant 'bad luck' in Middle English, but as the
> ace is often the highest playing card, its meaning has changed to mean
> 'high-quality, excellence'.
> The tradition of a "high" ace comes from the French Revolution where
> the lowest number card (the one) was placed above the King to
> represent the victory of the common man over the monarchy.
> 
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ace
> 
> http://against-the-day.pynchonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=ATD_397-428#Page_415
> 
> 
> "Glossy black eyes"
> 
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey_alien
> 
> http://www.skepdic.com/aliens.html
> 
> 
> "the visiting dead"
> 
> E.g., ...
> 
> "The objective tonight is to get in touch with the late foreign
> minister Walter Rathenau." (GR, Pt. I, pp. 163ff.)
> 
> "Her eyes have broken into white, and grown pointed at the outer ends,
> her ears are back like a cat's." (M&D, Ch. 15, p. 164 et al.)
> 
> 
> "phatic chitchat"
> 
> Main Entry: phat·ic
> Pronunciation: 'fa-tik
> Function: adjective
> Etymology: Greek phatos, verbal of phanai to speak
> : of, relating to, or being speech used for social or emotive purposes
> rather than for communicating information
> 
> http://m-w.com/dictionary/phatic
>