:xyzzy: /X-Y-Z-Z-Y/, /X-Y-ziz'ee/, /ziz'ee/, or /ik-ziz'ee/
[from the ADVENT game] adj. The {canonical} `magic word'.
This comes from {ADVENT}, in which the idea is to explore an
underground cave with many rooms and to collect the treasures you
find there. If you type `xyzzy' at the appropriate time, you can
move instantly between two otherwise distant points. If,
therefore, you encounter some bit of {magic}, you might remark
on this quite succinctly by saying simply "Xyzzy!" "Ordinarily
you can't look at someone else's screen if he has protected it, but
if you type quadruple-bucky-clear the system will let you do it
anyway." "Xyzzy!" Xyzzy has actually been implemented as an
undocumented no-op command on several OSes; in Data General's
AOS/VS, for example, it would typically respond "Nothing
happens", just as {ADVENT} did if the magic was invoked at the
wrong spot or before a player had performed the action that enabled
the word. In more recent 32-bit versions, by the way, AOS/VS
responds "Twice as much happens". See also {plugh}.
-- The AI Hackers Dictionary
[from the ADVENT game] adj. The {canonical} `magic word'.
This comes from {ADVENT}, in which the idea is to explore an
underground cave with many rooms and to collect the treasures you
find there. If you type `xyzzy' at the appropriate time, you can
move instantly between two otherwise distant points. If,
therefore, you encounter some bit of {magic}, you might remark
on this quite succinctly by saying simply "Xyzzy!" "Ordinarily
you can't look at someone else's screen if he has protected it, but
if you type quadruple-bucky-clear the system will let you do it
anyway." "Xyzzy!" Xyzzy has actually been implemented as an
undocumented no-op command on several OSes; in Data General's
AOS/VS, for example, it would typically respond "Nothing
happens", just as {ADVENT} did if the magic was invoked at the
wrong spot or before a player had performed the action that enabled
the word. In more recent 32-bit versions, by the way, AOS/VS
responds "Twice as much happens". See also {plugh}.
-- The AI Hackers Dictionary
Related:
- xyzzy /X-Y-Z-Z-Y/, /X-Y-ziz'ee/, /ziz'ee/, or /ik-ziz'ee/
adj.
[from the ADVENT game] The canonical `magic word'... - ADVENT /ad'vent/ n.
The prototypical computer
adventure game,
first designed by Will Crowther on the PDP-10 in... - ADVENT: /ad'vent/ n. The prototypical computer adventure game,
first implemented on the {PDP-10} by Will Crowther... - plugh /ploogh/ v.
[from the ADVENT game] See xyzzy... - The magic
word is:... - double bucky adj.
Using both the CTRL and META keys.
"The command to burn all LEDs is double bucky F... - space-cadet keyboard n.
A now-legendary device used on MIT
LISP machines,
which inspired several still-current jargon terms ... - talk mode n.
A feature supported by Unix, ITS, and some
other OSes that allows two or more logged-in users to set up a
real-time on-line conversation.
It combines the immediacy of talking with all the... - foo /foo/
1. interj. Term of disgust. 2. [very
common] Used very generally as a sample name for absolutely
anything,
esp. programs and files (esp. scratch files). 3. First...
From the same category:
- An attorney starts his or her practice giving $500 worth of legal expertise
for $ 5.00.
In the passage of a small time all of this is remedied... - This fortune intentionally not
included... - The gods play games with men as pieces.
-- Titus Maccius Plautus (254?
184 B.C... - Backup not found:
(A)bort (R)etry... - F u kin reed this,
thank a teechor...
