Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

deduction

(Encyclopedia)deduction, in logic, form of inference such that the conclusion must be true if the premises are true. For example, if we know that all men have two legs and that John is a man, it is then logical to ...

amputation

(Encyclopedia)amputation ămˌpyətāˈshən [key], removal of all or part of a limb or other body part. Although amputation has been practiced for centuries, the development of sophisticated techniques for treatme...

Ledyard, William

(Encyclopedia)Ledyard, William lĕdˈyərd [key], 1738–81, American Revolutionary officer, b. Groton, Conn. In 1781, as commander of Fort Griswold (near Groton), he refused to surrender, despite threats of massac...

Willet, Marinus

(Encyclopedia)Willet, Marinus mərēˈnəs wĭlˈĭt [key], 1740–1830, American Revolutionary soldier, b. Jamaica, N.Y. In the French and Indian War he was (1758) a member of the expeditions against Fort Ticonder...

Brownsville

(Encyclopedia)Brownsville, city (2020 pop. 186,738), seat of Cameron co., extreme S Tex., on the Rio Grande c.17 mi (30 km) from its mouth at the Gulf of Mexico; inc....

Chambly

(Encyclopedia)Chambly shäNblēˈ [key], city, S Que., Canada, on the Richelieu River, E of Montreal. C...

Oxon Hill

(Encyclopedia)Oxon Hill, village (1990 pop. 35,794), Prince Georges co., central Md., a suburb S of Washington, D.C. Oxon Hill was dominated by large estates until the 1950s. National Harbor, a major mixed-use deve...

Ndjamena

(Encyclopedia)Ndjamena fôr-lämēˈ [key], city (1993 urban pop. 213,342), capital of Chad and of Chari-Baguirmi prefecture, SW Chad. It is a port on the Chari River and a transportation hub that lies on roads lea...

George, Lake

(Encyclopedia)George, Lake, glacial lake, 33 mi (53 km) long and 1 to 3 mi (1.6–5 km) wide, in the foothills of the Adirondack Mts., NE N.Y.; it drains NE via rapids and waterfalls into Lake Champlain. The lake w...

Gourgues, Dominique de

(Encyclopedia)Gourgues, Dominique de dômēnēkˈ də go͞org [key], c.1530–1593, French soldier and adventurer. He served in the French army in Italy, was captured by the Spanish, then by the Turks, served as ga...