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The word is most usually employed to denote the larva of some species of insect. Thus when Hamlet, after speaking of the "convocation of politic worms," says "your worm is your only emperor for diet: we fat all creatures else to fat us, and we fat ourselves for maggots;" we perceive at once that the words "worm" and "maggots" apply to one and the same thing, namely, the larvæ of the flesh-flies. Every one will call to mind another example, in the celebrated scene where Othello demands " the handkerchief."

In other instances, however, the word is applied either to the serpent, or to some species of venomous reptile.

Again, when Hermia, in the Midsummer Night's Dream, reproaches Demetrius for the supposed murder of Lysander, she asks—

Cleopatra employs the word to designate the asp, for she enquires of the countryman who had brought it —

On one occasion the peculiar malignity of the "worm" is indicated by the term "viperous."

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