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Otto, Frei Paul

(Encyclopedia)Otto, Frei Paul ôˈtō [key], 1925–2015, German architect. Most notable for his tensile and pneumatic structures, Otto was among the first major architects to experiment with lightweight design. H...

Clementi, Muzio

(Encyclopedia)Clementi, Muzio mo͞oˈtsēō klāmĕnˈtē [key], 1752–1832, Italian composer, pianist, and conductor, b. Rome. He wrote more than 100 keyboard sonatas, which set the definitive form, and he had an...

irredentism

(Encyclopedia)irredentism ĭrĭdenˈtĭzəm [key], originally, the Italian nationalist movement for the annexation to Italy of territories—Italia irredenta [unredeemed Italy]—inhabited by an Italian majority bu...

Nenni, Pietro

(Encyclopedia)Nenni, Pietro pyĕˈtrō nĕnˈnē [key], 1891–1980, Italian journalist and political leader. He was imprisoned in 1911 for his participation in the protest movement against the Italo-Turkish war in...

Riviera

(Encyclopedia)Riviera rĭvēârˈə [key], narrow coastal strip between the Alps and the Mediterranean, extending, roughly, from La Spezia (Italy) to Hyères (France). Famous for its scenic beauty and for its mild ...

Wertmüller, Lina

(Encyclopedia)Wertmüller, Lina, 1928–2021, Italian film director, b. Archangela as Felice Assunta Wertmüller von Elgg Spañol von Braucich. In the 1970s she becam...

Social War

(Encyclopedia)Social War or Marsic War [Lat. socii=allies], 91b.c.–88 b.c., struggle brought on by demands of the Italian allies for the privileges of Roman citizenship. The allies had fought on the side of Rome ...

Sforza, Carlo, Conte

(Encyclopedia)Sforza, Carlo, Conte sfôrˈtsä [key], 1872–1952, Italian foreign minister. He held high ministerial and diplomatic posts, became a senator, and as foreign minister (1920–21) negotiated the Trea...

rye grass

(Encyclopedia)rye grass, short-lived perennial, leafy, tufted plant belonging to the family Poaceae (grass family). Two species are grown in the United States—Italian rye grass (Lolium multiflorum), the leading h...

Primaticcio, Francesco

(Encyclopedia)Primaticcio, Francesco fränchāsˈkō prēmätētˈchō [key], 1504–70, Italian painter, called Le Primatice by the French. He was influenced by Correggio and by Michelangelo. As assistant to Giuli...