Poe

• (surname): Pow

• (UK) IPA^(key): /pəʊ/
• (US) IPA^(key): /poʊ/
• Rhymes: -əʊ

A nickname from Old Norse pái (“peacock”). This surname is also well established in Ireland.

Poe (countable and uncountable, plural Poes)

1. A surname from Old Norse:
   1. Edgar Allan Poe, an American author and poet of the 19th century, known especially for his dark themes.
2. An unincorporated community in Allen County, Indiana, United States.
3. An unincorporated community in Nicholas County, West Virginia, United States.

• Poean
• Poesque

• According to the 2010 United States Census, Poe is the 1522^nd most common surname in the United States, belonging to 23563 individuals. Poe is most common among White (80.15%) and Black/African American (12.52%) individuals.

• Hanks, Patrick, editor (2003), “Poe”, in Dictionary of American Family Names, volume 3, New York: Oxford University Press, →ISBN.

From Poe's law, an Internet adage coined by Nathan Poe in 2005 on the Christian Forums website. Originally applied to religious fundamentalism, the term has since broadened to describe any situation where parody and sincerity are indistinguishable.

Poe (plural Poes)

1. (Internet slang) A person whose views, statements, or behaviour are so extreme or satirical that it is impossible to tell whether they are sincere or parodic.
   • 2008, Urban Dictionary contributor, “Poe”, in Urban Dictionary‎^[1]:

     A person who writes a parody of a Fundamentalist that is mistaken for the real thing. Due to Poe's law, it is almost impossible to tell if a person is a Poe unless they admit to it.

   • 2023, “Discussion thread”, in Reddit, r/AtheistExperience‎^[2]:

     Normally, a Poe is a fraud trying to make the side look bad they claim to be on.

2. (Internet slang) A post, comment, or message whose sincerity cannot be determined; specifically, one that may be parody, satire, or trolling, but could also be a genuine expression of belief.
   • 2014, Neal Umphred, How Apropoe (Wasting Irony On The Internet And Poe’s Law)‎^[3]:

     In this context, a Poe refers to a person, post, or news story that could cause Poe's law to be invoked.… A typical phrase would be “it’s a Poe, guys, don’t be so stupid” when an extremely rational link is posted.

• troll (in some contexts)
• satirist (for sense 1)
• satire (for sense 2)

Poe (third-person singular simple present Poes, present participle Poeing, simple past and past participle Poed)

1. (Internet slang) To impersonate or mimic an extreme viewpoint in a way that invokes Poe's law.
2. (Internet slang) To write or create a message so extreme or parodic that it is difficult to distinguish from sincere extremism.

• 'ope, EPO, EoP, PEO, ope, peo.