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coercion

(Encyclopedia) coercion, in law, the unlawful act of compelling a person to do, or to abstain from doing, something by depriving him of the exercise of his free will, particularly by use or threat of…

fisher

(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…

Scott-Heron, Gil

(Encyclopedia) Scott-Heron, Gil, 1949–2011, American poet, musician, and songwriter, b. Chicago. Often considered “the godfather of rap music,” he…

Peter, epistles of the New Testament

(Encyclopedia) Peter, two letters of the New Testament, classified among the Catholic (or General) Epistles. Each opens with a statement of authorship by the apostle St. Peter. First Peter, the…

parole

(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…

Trafalgar, battle of

(Encyclopedia) Trafalgar, battle ofTrafalgar, battle oftrəfălˈgər [key], naval engagement fought off Cape Trafalgar on the SW coast of Spain on Oct. 21, 1805, in which the British fleet under Horatio…

thermionic emission

(Encyclopedia) thermionic emissionthermionic emissionthûrmˌīŏnˈĭk [key], emission of electrons or ions by substances that are highly heated, the charged particles being called thermions. The number…

Ptolemy XII

(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…

Rich, Adrienne

(Encyclopedia) Rich, Adrienne, 1929–2012, American poet, b. Baltimore, grad. Radcliffe, 1951. From the 1970s her exquisitely wrought verse became looser and more personal as her works increasingly…

noddy

(Encyclopedia) noddy, tropical tern including five species in the genus Anous. The name noddy is said to derive from their easy familiarity with man. Noddies are web-footed seabirds with long wings (…