(Encyclopedia) Doomsday 2000, term coined by Canadian computer consultant Peter de Jager in 1993 to describe the operational and financial impact of a defect of contemporary computer hardware and…
(Encyclopedia) Clotilda, SaintClotilda, Saintklətĭlˈdə [key], d. 545, Frankish queen. She converted her husband, Clovis I, to Christianity and built with him in Paris the Church of the Apostles Peter…
(Encyclopedia) Ferdinand II, 1816–85, king consort of Portugal (1837–53). The eldest son of Ferdinand, duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, he married Maria II (Maria da Glória) of Portugal in 1836. After her…
(Encyclopedia) Porta, Giacomo dellaPorta, Giacomo dellajäˈkōmō dĕlˈlä pôrˈtä [key], c.1540–1602, Italian architect and sculptor. After working with Vignola and Michelangelo, he completed several…
(Encyclopedia) pun, use of words, usually humorous, based on (a) the several meanings of one word, (b) a similarity of meaning between words that are pronounced the same, or (c) the difference in…
(Encyclopedia) Tenerani, PietroTenerani, Pietropyĕˈtrō tānāräˈnē [key], c.1789–1869, Italian sculptor. He studied with both Canova and Thorvaldsen. Of his many works on classical and Christian…
(Encyclopedia) veronicaveronicavərŏnˈĭkə [key] [Lat., probably connected with Greek Berenice], relic preserved in St. Peter's Church, Rome. It is said to be a veil that a woman used to wipe the face…
(Encyclopedia) Masolino da PanicaleMasolino da Panicalemäzōlēˈnō dä pänēkäˈlā [key], 1383–c.1447, Florentine painter of the early Renaissance, whose real name was Tommaso di Cristoforo Fini. His…
(Encyclopedia) John I (John the Great), 1357?–1433, king of Portugal (1385–1433), illegitimate son of Peter I. He was made (1364) grand master of the Knights of Aviz and exercised his influence in…
