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rose of Jericho

(Encyclopedia)rose of Jericho, common name for two plants belonging to different families in the plant kingdom. One, an annual desert plant (Anastatica hierochuntica) of the family Cruciferae (or Brassicaceae; must...

Mar, John Erskine, 1st (or 6th) earl of

(Encyclopedia)Mar, John Erskine, 1st (or 6th) earl of, d. 1572, regent of Scotland. As Lord Erskine he was keeper of Edinburgh and Stirling castles, a source of much political strength. In the struggle between the ...

balm of Gilead

(Encyclopedia)balm of Gilead gĭlˈēəd [key], name for several plants belonging to different taxonomic families. The historic Old World balm of Gilead, or Mecca balsam, is a small evergreen tree (Commiphora gilea...

Jennys

(Encyclopedia)Jennys, family of American painters, fl. 1770–1810. Little is known of the Jennys family. William Jennys and his son Richard painted portraits in Massachusetts and Connecticut. These are classed as ...

Chicago, University of

(Encyclopedia)Chicago, University of, at Chicago; coeducational; inc. 1890, opened 1892 primarily through the gifts of John D. Rockefeller. Because of the progressive programs and distinguished faculty established ...

Abacha, Sani

(Encyclopedia)Abacha, Sani, 1943–98, Nigerian military officer and political leader, b. Kano. He received military training in Nigeria and England, joining the Nigerian army in 1963. Abacha participated in severa...

Nu, U

(Encyclopedia)Nu, U o͞o no͞o [key], 1907–95, Burmese political leader, prime minister of Burma (1948–56, 1957–58, 1960–62). A nationalist, he was expelled by the British authorities from the Univ. of Rang...

Santa Clara, pueblo, United States

(Encyclopedia)Santa Clara sänˌtä kläˈrä [key], pueblo (1990 pop. 1,156), N N.Mex., on the Rio Grande. Its inhabitants are Pueblo of the Tanoan linguistic family. Having their own elected government, the resid...

nightingale

(Encyclopedia)nightingale, common name for a migratory Old World bird of the family Turdidae (thrush family), celebrated for its vocal powers. The common nightingale of England and Western Europe, Luscinia megarhyn...

Connecticut, University of

(Encyclopedia)Connecticut, University of, mainly at Storrs; coeducational; land grant and state supported; chartered and opened 1881 as Storrs Agricultural School. It became a college in 1893 and a university in 19...