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Abu Muslim

(Encyclopedia)Abu Muslim äˈbo͞o mo͝osˈlĭm [key], c.728–755, Persian leader of the Abbasid revolution. By political and religious agitation he raised (747) the black banners of the Abbasids against the rulin...

Marsh, Charles Wesley

(Encyclopedia)Marsh, Charles Wesley, 1834–1918, American inventor and editor, b. Ontario. In 1849 his family moved to De Kalb co., Ill. Assisted by his brother William, he designed a hand-binding harvester and ob...

Martinů, Bohuslav

(Encyclopedia)Martinů, Bohuslav bôˈho͝osläf märˈtĭno͞o [key], 1890–1959, Czech composer; studied at the Prague Conservatory. He played the violin (1918–23) in the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra. Martinů...

Rundstedt, Karl Rudolf Gerd von

(Encyclopedia)Rundstedt, Karl Rudolf Gerd von kärl ro͞oˈdôlf gĕrt fən ro͝ontˈshtĕt [key], 1875–1953, German field marshal. He proved his exceptional abilities in World War I. In World War II he commanded...

Sadducees

(Encyclopedia)Sadducees săjˈo͝osēz, sădˈyo͝o– [key], sect of Jews formed around the time of the Hasmonean revolt (c.200 b.c.). Little is known concerning their beliefs, but according to Josephus Flavius, t...

Rainalducci, Pietro

(Encyclopedia)Rainalducci or Rainallucci, Pietro pyĕˈtrō rīnäldo͞otˈchē, rīnäl-lo͞otˈchē [key], d. 1333, Italian churchman (b. Corvaro, near Rieti), antipope (1328–30) with the name Nicholas V. Havin...

toucan

(Encyclopedia)toucan to͞okănˈ, to͞oˈkän [key], perching bird of the New World tropics, related to the woodpeckers. Toucans vary in size from the jay-sized toucanets to the 24-in. (62-cm) tocos of the Amazon b...

Rojas Pinilla, Gustavo

(Encyclopedia)Rojas Pinilla, Gustavo go͞ostäˈvō rōˈhäs pēnēˈyä [key], 1900–1975, president of Colombia (1953–57). As head of the armed forces he led the coup that ousted President Laureano Gómez in ...

Schnorr von Carolsfeld, Julius

(Encyclopedia)Schnorr von Carolsfeld, Julius yo͞oˈlyo͝os shnôr fən käˈrôlsfĕlt [key], 1794–1872, German religious and historical painter and draftsman. He studied with his father, Veit Hans Schnorr von C...

Scruggs, Earl Eugene

(Encyclopedia)Scruggs, Earl Eugene, 1924–2012, American banjo player, b. Flint Hill, N.C. He developed a distinctive syncopated, three-finger style on the five-string banjo that changed the way it is played. From...