(Encyclopedia) Shaw, Robert Gould, 1837–63, Union hero in the American Civil War, b. Boston. An ardent white abolitionist, he was colonel of the 54th Massachusetts Regiment, the first body of black…
(Encyclopedia) curfew [O.Fr.,=cover fire], originally a signal, such as the ringing of a bell, to damp the fire, extinguish all lights in the dwelling, and retire for the night. The custom originated…
(Encyclopedia) di Suvero, Markdi Suvero, Markdē s&oomacr;ˈvərō [key], 1933–, American sculptor, b. Shanghai. Di Suvero's major works are constructions of massize pieces of steel, huge weathered…
(Encyclopedia) trill, in music, ornament consisting of the more or less rapid alternation of two adjacent notes. Indicated by any of several conventional symbols, it varies in speed and duration and…
(Encyclopedia) FletaFletaflēˈtə [key], treatise of unknown authorship on the English common law, written in the late 13th cent. Its name is derived from the belief that it was written in the old…
(Encyclopedia) Herrick, Robert, 1868–1938, American novelist, b. Cambridge, Mass., grad. Harvard, 1890. He was professor of English at the Univ. of Chicago from 1893 to 1923. Herrick wrote realistic…
(Encyclopedia) Jackman, Wilbur Samuel, 1855–1907, American educator, b. Mechanicstown, Ohio, grad. Harvard, 1884. Jackman was a leader of the nature study movement in elementary schools. He taught (…
(Encyclopedia) Arctic Council, intergovernmental forum established to promote cooperation, coordination, and interaction among the arctic nations, with the involvement of indigenous peoples and…
(Encyclopedia) stromatolite, layered structures produced by the binding together of sediments by a thin layer of cyanobacteria. The layers, which are deposited very slowly, gradually produce rounded…
(Encyclopedia) superstition, an irrational belief or practice resulting from ignorance or fear of the unknown. The validity of superstitions is based on belief in the power of magic and witchcraft…
