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determinism

(Encyclopedia)determinism, philosophical thesis that every event is the inevitable result of antecedent causes. Applied to ethics and psychology, determinism usually involves a denial of free will, although many ph...

probate

(Encyclopedia)probate prōˈbāt [key], in law, the certification by a court that a will is valid. Probate, which is governed by various statutes in the several states of the United States, is required before the w...

Dyer, Mary

(Encyclopedia)Dyer, Mary, d. 1660, Quaker martyr in Massachusetts, b. England. She accompanied (c.1635) her husband to Massachusetts and supported Anne Hutchinson, whom she followed to Rhode Island, where her husba...

Fernow, Bernhard Eduard

(Encyclopedia)Fernow, Bernhard Eduard fûrˈnō [key], 1851–1923, American forester, b. Germany. In 1876 he emigrated to the United States and became a leader in the movement to protect forests against fire and e...

Fifth Monarchy Men

(Encyclopedia)Fifth Monarchy Men, religious group active during the time of the Commonwealth and Protectorate in England. They were millenarians expecting the imminent coming of Jesus to rule the earth. His monarch...

Harrodsburg

(Encyclopedia)Harrodsburg, city (2020 pop. 8,697, seat of Mercer co., central Ky., S of Frankfort. It is a trade center in a bluegrass area producing livestock, grain...

radioactive waste

(Encyclopedia)radioactive waste, material containing the unusable radioactive byproducts of the scientific, military, and industrial applications of nuclear energy. Since its radioactivity presents a serious health...

executors and administrators

(Encyclopedia)executors and administrators. An executor is the person designated in the will of a deceased person to carry out the provisions of the will. An administrator is the person appointed by a probate court...

roulette

(Encyclopedia)roulette ro͞olĕtˈ [key], game of chance popular in gambling casinos, and in a simplified form elsewhere. In gambling houses the roulette wheel is set in an oblong table. Its outer area is marked of...

Draper, Lyman Copeland

(Encyclopedia)Draper, Lyman Copeland, 1815–91, American historical collector and librarian, b. Erie co., N.Y. He spent years traveling through an area ranging from New York to Mississippi, gathering the stories o...