(Encyclopedia) fisher, name of a large North American marten, Martes pennanti. This carnivorous, largely arboreal mammal is found in hardwood forests of Canada, the extreme N United States, and…
(Encyclopedia) Ptolemy XII (Ptolemy Auletes)Ptolemy XIItŏlˈəmē [key]Ptolemy XIIôlēˈtēz [key], d. 51 b.c., king of ancient Egypt (80–58 b.c., 55–51 b.c.), of the Macedonian dynasty, illegitimate son…
(Encyclopedia) paroleparolepərōlˈ [key], in criminal law, release from prison of a convict before the expiration of his term on condition that his activities be restricted and that he report…
(Encyclopedia) flextime, system of assigning hours for work that permits employees to choose, within specified limits, the hours that they will be at their place of employment. In many companies,…
(Encyclopedia) antifreeze, substance added to a solvent to lower its freezing point. The solution formed is called an antifreeze mixture. Antifreeze is typically added to water in the cooling system…
(Encyclopedia) drongodrongodrŏngˈgō [key], any of the insect-eating Old World birds of the family Dicruridae. Most species have black plumage with an iridescent purple or green shimmer and long,…
(Encyclopedia) dry cleaning, process of cleaning fabrics without water. Special solvents and soaps are used so as not to harm fabrics and dyes that will not withstand the effects of ordinary soap and…
(Encyclopedia) Grignard reagentGrignard reagentgrēnyärdˈ rēāˈjənt [key], any of an important class of extremely reactive chemical compounds used in the synthesis of hydrocarbons, alcohols, carboxylic…
(Encyclopedia) taboo or tabutabooboth: tăb&oomacr;ˈ, tə– [key], prohibition of an act or the use of an object or word under pain of punishment. Originally a Polynesian word, taboo can apply to…
(Encyclopedia) tachinid flytachinid flytăkˈənĭd [key], common name for any of the flies of the family Tachinidae, which parasitize caterpillars, beetles, grasshoppers, and other insects. Tachinid…
