Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

310 results found

Jehovah-jireh

(Encyclopedia)Jehovah-jireh jəhōˈvə-jīˈrē [key], in the Bible, Abraham's name for the spot where the angel prevented the sacrifice of Isaac. ...

Forster, William Edward

(Encyclopedia)Forster, William Edward, 1818–86, British statesman. He entered Parliament as a Liberal in 1861. As vice president of the council in William Gladstone's first ministry (1868–74), he introduced the...

Bulnes, Manuel

(Encyclopedia)Bulnes, Manuel mänwĕlˈ bo͞olˈnās [key], 1799–1866, president of Chile (1841–51). He served in the revolt against Spain and commanded the victorious Chilean forces at the battle of Yungay (18...

Moriah

(Encyclopedia)Moriah mōrīˈə [key], in the Bible, land in which the mountain where Abraham was to sacrifice Isaac was located. It has been identified by some with Mt. Moriah. ...

Gerar

(Encyclopedia)Gerar gēˈrär [key], in the Bible, city-state of Canaan, SE of Gaza. Abraham and Isaac sojourned there. Its identification is controversial; the most likely site is Tel Haror. ...

Andronicus I

(Encyclopedia)Andronicus I (Andronicus Comnenus) ăndrənīˈkəs kŏmnēˈnəs [key], 1120?–1185, Byzantine emperor (1183–85), nephew of John II. He acceded to the throne by strangling his cousin Alexius II. T...

Ishmael

(Encyclopedia)Ishmael ĭshˈmāĕl [key] [Heb.,=God hears], in the Bible. 1 Son of Abraham and Hagar; ancestor of 12 tribes in N Arabia. Through Sara's jealousy he and his mother were sent into the desert, where th...

Jacob

(Encyclopedia)Jacob jāˈkəb [key], in the Bible, ancestor of the Hebrews, the younger of Isaac and Rebecca's twin sons; the older was Esau. In exchange for a bowl of lentil soup, Jacob obtained Esau's birthright ...

Acton

(Encyclopedia)Acton, town (2020 pop. 24,021), Middlesex co., E Mass., NW of Boston; settled c.1680, inc. 1735. Among its manufactures are electrical machinery, chemicals, prefabricated houses, and preci...

Soulouque, Faustin Élie

(Encyclopedia)Soulouque, Faustin Élie fōstăNˈ ālēˈ so͞olo͞okˈ [key], c.1785–1867, emperor of Haiti (1849–59). An illiterate former slave, he became president in 1847 and then declared himself emperor ...