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Becher

(Encyclopedia)Becher bēˈkər [key], in the Bible. 1 Son of Benjamin. In First Chronicles “his first-born” should perhaps be read “Becher”; cf. Bocheru. See Bichri. 2 Son of Ephraim. His descendants are ca...

digital versatile disc

(Encyclopedia)digital versatile disc or digital video disc (DVD), a small plastic disc used for the storage of digital data. The successor media to the compact disc (CD), a DVD can have more than 100 times the stor...

Anne, Saint

(Encyclopedia)Anne, Saint, in tradition, mother of the Virgin and wife of St. Joachim. She is not mentioned in Scripture, but her cult is very old. In the West she has been especially popular since the Middle Ages....

Ekelund, Vilhelm

(Encyclopedia)Ekelund, Vilhelm vĭlˈəlm āˈkəlŭndˌ [key], 1880–1949, Swedish essayist and poet. Ekelund's writings were influenced by the works of Nietzsche, Hölderlin, and Swedenborg. After publication of...

Didon, Henri

(Encyclopedia)Didon, Henri äNrēˈ dēdôNˈ [key], 1840–1900, French Dominican preacher and writer. He became known as an eloquent preacher, especially for his eulogy on Archbishop Darboy. He was sent to Corsic...

Smeaton, John

(Encyclopedia)Smeaton, John smēˈtən [key], 1724–92, English civil engineer. He became an instrument maker, improved navigation instruments, and carried out many experiments on mechanical apparatus. Between 175...

Mary, 1867–1953, queen consort of George V of England

(Encyclopedia)Mary, 1867–1953, queen consort of George V of England. Daughter of the duke of Teck and great-granddaughter of George III, she was engaged first to George's elder brother, the duke of Clarence, who ...

Arnoldson, Klas Pontus

(Encyclopedia)Arnoldson, Klas Pontus kläs pônˈtəs ärˈnôldsōn [key], 1844–1916, Swedish journalist and peace advocate. His untiring efforts for peace were rewarded by the 1908 Nobel Peace Prize, which he s...

Ibn Tufayl

(Encyclopedia)Ibn Tufayl ĭˈbən to͞ofālˈ [key], d. 1185/86?, 12th-century Spanish-Arab philosopher and physician, b. near Granada. His chief work was a philosophical romance, Hayy ibn Yaqzan, describing the de...

Chew, Benjamin

(Encyclopedia)Chew, Benjamin, 1722–1810, American public official and judge, b. Anne Arundel co., Md. He read law in Philadelphia under Andrew Hamilton and was admitted (1746) to the bar. After practicing law at ...