Harlan Ellison Story Words

unfamiliar words found in short stories written by Harlan Ellison

constable

public peace officer who maintains local order/handles minor court tasks

posse comitatus (power of the county)

group of citizens mobilized by authority to keep peace, respond to emergency, etc.

an act that prohibits federal military from participating in law enforcement

mainspring

main metal spring in mechanical device that winds up and stores/releases energy

notoriety

state of being famous for negative action/bad quality or events

stratum (pl. strata)

distinct later/level found in rock or other similar structures

propriety

quality of behaving in a socially/morally acceptable, proper, or respectful way

fink

North American slang for an informer, a strikebreaker, or generally unpleasant person

commex/mineez

invented, futuristic slang used to describe a lower-class corporate worker

harlequin

a traditional comic stage character from 16th century Italian theater

Mondrian (Mondrianesque/Mondrianian)

a style of design featuring a grid of thick lines and/or solid primary colors and white or gray