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punctuation

(Encyclopedia)punctuation [Lat.,=point], the use of special signs in writing to clarify how words are used; the term also refers to the signs themselves. In every language, besides the sounds of the words that are ...

Rabboni

(Encyclopedia)Rabboni răbōˈnī [key] [Aram.,=my master], a variant of Rabbi, a title of respect to teachers. It is addressed to Jesus in the Gospels of St. Mark and St. John. ...

Azmaveth

(Encyclopedia)Azmaveth ăzmāˈvĕth [key], in the Bible. 1 One of David's mighty men. 2 David's treasurer, perhaps the same as 1. 3 Father of two of David's warriors. He may be the same as 1 or 2, or the name may ...

diadem

(Encyclopedia)diadem, in ancient times, the fillet of silk, wool, or linen tied about the head of a king, queen, or priest as a distinguishing mark. Later, it was a band of gold, which gave rise to the crown. In he...

Alexander I, king of Scotland

(Encyclopedia)Alexander I, 1078?–1124, king of Scotland (1107–24), son of Malcolm III and St. Margaret of Scotland. He succeeded his brother Edgar, who had divided the kingdom so that Alexander ruled only N of ...

Morgenthau, Robert Morris

(Encyclopedia) Morgenthau, Robert Morris, , 1919-2009, b. New York, N.Y, Amherst College (B.A., 1941); Yale Univ. Law School (J.D., 1948). He was the son of Henry Mor...

omphalos

(Encyclopedia)omphalos ōmˈfəlŏs [key], in Greek and Roman religion, navel-shaped stone used in the rites of many cults. The most famous omphalos was at Delphi; it was supposed to mark the center of the earth. ...

Samuel

(Encyclopedia)Samuel, two books of the Bible, originally a single work, called First and Second Samuel in modern Bibles, and First and Second Kingdoms in the Septuagint. They are considered part of “Deuteronomist...

Eliab

(Encyclopedia)Eliab ēlīˈăb [key], in the Bible. 1 Chief of the tribe of Zebulun. 2 Father of Dathan. 3 Brother of David. 4 Musician of David. 5 A follower of David. 6 The same as Elihu (1.) ...

Saul

(Encyclopedia)Saul, first king of the ancient Hebrews. He was a Benjamite and anointed king by Samuel. Saul's territory was probably limited to the hill country of Judah and the region to the north, and his proximi...

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