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Great Society

(Encyclopedia)Great Society, in U.S. history, term for the domestic policies of President Lyndon Johnson. In his first State of the Union message, he called for a war on poverty and the creation of a “Great Socie...

placenta

(Encyclopedia)placenta pləsĕnˈtə [key] or afterbirth, organ that develops in the uterus during pregnancy. It is a unique characteristic of the higher (or placental) mammals. In humans it is a thick mass, about ...

Derbe

(Encyclopedia)Derbe dûrˈbē [key], ancient town of Lycaonia, Asia Minor. The Acts of the Apostles relates that Paul and Barnabas fled there from Iconium. ...

Drusilla

(Encyclopedia)Drusilla dro͞osĭlˈə [key], daughter of Herod Agrippa I, married to Felix the procurator and mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles. ...

work

(Encyclopedia)work, in physics and mechanics, transfer of energy by a force acting to displace a body. Work is equal to the product of the force and the distance through which it produces movement. Although both fo...

Howard, John, English prison reformer

(Encyclopedia)Howard, John, 1726–90, English prison reformer. He had great influence in improving sanitary conditions and securing humane treatment in prisons throughout Europe. He was responsible (1774) for pers...

Thyatira

(Encyclopedia)Thyatira thīˌətīˈrə [key], ancient city of Lydia, now Akhisar, Turkey. It was one of the Seven Churches in Asia and was known for its purple dye (Acts 16.14). ...

Silas

(Encyclopedia)Silas sīˈləs [key], in the Acts of the Apostles, early Christian leader and companion of Paul on two missionary journeys. Probably he is the Silvanus mentioned frequently in the Letters. ...

Haywood, William Dudley

(Encyclopedia)Haywood, William Dudley, 1869–1928, American labor leader, known as Big Bill Haywood, b. Salt Lake City, Utah. He began work as a miner at 15 years of age. In 1896 he joined the newly organized West...

Lystra

(Encyclopedia)Lystra lĭsˈtrə [key], ancient city of Lycaonia, S Asia Minor, in present Turkey. The Acts of the Apostles reports that it was visited by Paul and Barnabas. An ancient altar found there mentioned th...