From: Joel VanderWerf <vjoel@...>
Date: 2003-11-15T20:50:43+09:00
Subject: Re: def

T. Onoma wrote:
> what is this def?
> it is not a method...?
> it is not some sugar...?
> well might it be a lambda...?
> just what is this def?
> 
> (funny we say def for define but not init for initialize)
> 
> -t0
> 

It is a special form. Or, to paraphrase the Gateless Gate,

A monk asked Nansen: `Is there a teaching no master ever preached before?'

Nansen said: `Yes, there is.'

`What is it?' asked the monk.

Nansen replied: `It is not a method, it is not some sugar, it is not 
lambda.'

(http://www.ibiblio.org/zen/gateless-gate/27.html)