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curfew

(Encyclopedia)curfew [O.Fr.,=cover fire], originally a signal, such as the ringing of a bell, to damp the fire, extinguish all lights in the dwelling, and retire for the night. The custom originated as a precaution...

David, Saint

(Encyclopedia)David, Saint, d.588?, patron saint of Wales, first abbot of Menevia (present-day Saint David's). He apparently established a strict rule and was a zealous missionary, founding 12 monasteries. His cult...

Savona

(Encyclopedia)Savona sävôˈnä [key], city (1991 pop. 67,177), capital of Savona prov., in Liguria, NW Italy, on the Riviera. It is a major seaport and an industrial center. Manufactures include metals, machinery...

Trelleborg

(Encyclopedia)Trelleborg trĕləbôrˈyə [key], city (1990 pop. 22,850), Malmöhus co., extreme S Sweden, a port on the Baltic Sea. Manufactures include machinery, rubber, cement, and refined sugar. It is an impor...

Torcello

(Encyclopedia)Torcello tōrchĕlˈlō [key], village, on a small island of the same name in the Lagoon of Venice, NE Italy, NE of Venice. A prosperous town until the early Middle Ages, it has a Byzantine cathedral ...

Tôrres Vedras

(Encyclopedia)Tôrres Vedras tōˈrəsh vāˈdrəsh [key], town (1991 pop. 13,300), Lisboa dist., W central Portugal, in Estremadura. Located in an agricultural center, it produces wine and minor manufactures. The ...

Ringsted

(Encyclopedia)Ringsted rĭngˈstĕᵺ [key], city (1992 pop. 17,457), Vestsjælland co., E Denmark. It is the commercial and processing center of a rich agricultural region. Ringsted was a place of pagan worship in...

Nikšić

(Encyclopedia)Nikšić nēkˈshĭch [key], city (2011 pop. 72,443), central Montenegro. It is the commercial center of an agricultural region. It is also an important industrial city with a steel mill, sawmill, iro...

superstition

(Encyclopedia)superstition, an irrational belief or practice resulting from ignorance or fear of the unknown. The validity of superstitions is based on belief in the power of magic and witchcraft and in such invisi...

Steyr

(Encyclopedia)Steyr shtīˈər [key], city (1991 pop. 39,337), Upper Austria prov., central Austria, on the Enns and Steyr rivers. It has been an ironworking center since the Middle Ages. Other manufactures include...