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Reeve, Tapping

(Encyclopedia)Reeve, Tapping, 1744–1823, American lawyer and jurist, b. Brookhaven, N.Y. In 1784 he opened his law school in Litchfield, Conn.; it was one of the first schools of law in the United States. Aaron B...

Blennerhassett, Harman

(Encyclopedia)Blennerhassett, Harman blĕnˈərhăsˌət [key], 1765–1831, Anglo-Irish pioneer in America, an associate of Aaron Burr. Wealthy and gifted, he fell in love with and married his beautiful niece, Mar...

Amminadab

(Encyclopedia)Amminadab əmĭnˈədăb [key], in the Bible. 1 Aaron's father-in-law. 2 Head of a Levitical family. 3 The same as Izehar. ...

Parton, James

(Encyclopedia)Parton, James, 1822–91, American biographer, b. England. He came to the United States in 1827. In 1848 he joined the staff of N. P. Willis's Home Journal in New York City. His biographical writing b...

calf, golden

(Encyclopedia)calf, golden, erected by the Israelites on several occasions, as related in the Bible and the Qur'an. Aaron made one while Moses was on Mt. Sinai. Jeroboam placed one at Bethel and another at Dan. Hos...

Phinehas

(Encyclopedia)Phinehas or Phinees both: fĭnˈēəs [key], in the Bible. 1 Grandson of Aaron. His prompt punishment of two flagrant sinners made his name a symbol of holy, zealous indignation. 2 One of Eli's sacril...

Eleazar

(Encyclopedia)Eleazar ĕlēāˈzər [key], in the Bible. 1 Son of Aaron. 2 Keeper of the Ark of the Covenant. 3 Mighty man of David. 4 Man in the genealogy in the first chapter of the Gospel of St. Matthew. 5 One o...

Caxton, William

(Encyclopedia)Caxton, William, c.1421–91, English printer, the first to print books in English. He served apprenticeship as a mercer and from 1463 to 1469 was at Bruges as governor of the Merchants Adventurers in...

symphony

(Encyclopedia)symphony [Gr.,=sounding together], a sonata for orchestra. The Italian operatic overture, called sinfonia, was standardized by Alessandro Scarlatti at the end of the 17th cent. into three sections, th...

Nadab

(Encyclopedia)Nadab nāˈdăb [key]. 1 Aaron's eldest son, set apart for the priesthood. The exact nature of the transgression (“offering strange fire”) for which he and his brother Abihu died is not clear. 2 K...

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