Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • Pen name of William Sydney Porter: "O. Henry" refers to the pseudonym used by the American short story writer William Sydney Porter (1862-1910). He is famous for his witty, cleverly plotted tales featuring surprise endings and observations about everyday life, particularly in New York City.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • The story "The Gift of the Magi" is a classic by O. Henry.
  • We studied the use of irony in O. Henry's short stories.
  • His writing style is often described as O. Henry-esque.

Advanced Usage

• "O. Henry ending": A term used in literary criticism to describe a plot twist or surprise ending that is ironic or sentimental, characteristic of O. Henry's style.
  • The film's conclusion was a real O. Henry ending, completely unexpected yet fitting.

Variants and Related Words

• O. Henry-esque (adj): Resembling or characteristic of the style or plots of O. Henry's stories.
  • The author's latest collection features several O. Henry-esque tales.

Synonyms

• William Sydney Porter: The real name of the author who wrote under the pen name O. Henry.

Related Phrases

• O. Henry Award: An annual American award given to outstanding short stories.
  • Winning the O. Henry Award is a significant honor for a short story writer.

Noun

1. United States writer of short stories whose pen name was O. Henry (1862-1910)