Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Cavalli, Pietro Francesco

(Encyclopedia)Cavalli, Pietro Francesco pyĕˈtrō fränchĕsˈkō kävälˈlē [key], 1602–76, Italian composer, whose real name was Caletti-Bruni; pupil of Monteverdi, whom he succeeded as choirmaster of St. Ma...

Australian languages

(Encyclopedia)Australian languages, aboriginal languages spoken on the continent of Australia. The Australian languages do not appear to be related to any other linguistic family. The exact number of these language...

Weir, Peter

(Encyclopedia)Weir, Peter wēr [key], 1944–, Australian film director, b. Sydney. His early work helped to bring Australian film to world attention; his later films, made in Hollywood, mingle American movie techn...

Barnum, P. T.

(Encyclopedia)Barnum, P. T. (Phineas Taylor Barnum) fĭnˈēəs, bärˈnəm [key], 1810–91, American showman, b. Bethel, Conn. As a youth Barnum worked at diverse sales jobs and managed a boardinghouse. He made h...

Norris, John

(Encyclopedia)Norris, John, 1657–1711, English clergyman and philosopher. As the most prominent follower of Malebranche he wrote, in exposition of that philosopher's system, An Essay towards the Theory of the Ide...

Lebedev, Pyotr Nikolaevich

(Encyclopedia)Lebedev, Pyotr Nikolaevich pyôˈtə nyĭkəlīˈəvĭch lāˈbyədyəf [key], 1866–1912, Russian physicist. The most noted Russian physicist of his time, he studied at Strasbourg and Berlin and was...

Rojas, Fernando de

(Encyclopedia)Rojas, Fernando de fārnänˈdō ᵺā rōˈhäs [key], 1465?–1541?, Spanish writer. Scanty records show him to have practiced law at Salamanca. He wrote La Celestina, published anonymously in 1499....

Shakhty

(Encyclopedia)Shakhty shäkhˈtē [key], city (1989 pop. 226,000), SW European Russia; a major anthracite-mining center of the Donets Basin. Industrial products include iron, clothing, brewed beverages, and footwea...

Coysevox, Antoine

(Encyclopedia)Coysevox, Antoine äNtwänˈ kwäzĕvōksˈ [key], 1640–1720, French sculptor. He enjoyed the patronage of Louis XIV and produced a great part of the sculpture at Versailles. His Winged Horses, at t...

Ctesias

(Encyclopedia)Ctesias tēˈshēəs, tēˈsēəs [key], fl. 400 b.c., Greek historian and physician of Cnidus. He lived many years in the Persian court. He tended Artaxerxes II when he was wounded in the battle of C...