Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

hypochondria

(Encyclopedia)hypochondria hīˌpəkŏnˈdrēə [key], in psychology, a disorder characterized by an exaggeration of imagined or negligible physical ailment. The hypochondriac fears that such minor symptoms indicat...

Spahn, Warren Edward

(Encyclopedia)Spahn, Warren Edward, 1921–2003, American baseball player, b. Buffalo, N.Y. A spectacular pitcher in high-school baseball, Spahn turned professional in 1939 and played in the minor leagues. In 1942 ...

Seleucus I

(Encyclopedia)Seleucus I (Seleucus Nicator) səlyo͞oˈkəs [key], d. 280 b.c., king of ancient Syria. An able general of Alexander the Great, he played a leading part in the wars of the Diadochi. In the new partit...

astringent

(Encyclopedia)astringent əstrĭnˈjənt [key], substance that shrinks body tissues. Astringent medicines cause shrinkage of mucous membranes or exposed tissues and are often used internally to check discharge of s...

Achaeans

(Encyclopedia)Achaeans, people of ancient Greece, of unknown origin. In Homer, the Achaeans are specifically a Greek-speaking people of S Thessaly. Historically, they seem to have appeared in the Peloponnesus durin...

Lampsacus

(Encyclopedia)Lampsacus lămpˈsəkəs [key], ancient Greek city of NW Asia Minor, on the Hellespont (now Dardanelles) opposite Callipolis (now Gallipoli). It was colonized in the 7th cent. b.c. by Greeks from Phoc...

Tarsus

(Encyclopedia)Tarsus tärˈsəs, Turk. tärso͝osˈ [key], city (1990 pop. 191,333), S Turkey, in Cilicia, on the Tarsus (anc. Cydnus) River, near the Mediterranean Sea. It is an agricultural trade center; copper, ...

Cormenin, Louis Marie de La Haye, vicomte de

(Encyclopedia)Cormenin, Louis Marie de La Haye, vicomte de lwē märēˈ də lä ā vēkôNtˈ də kôrmənăNˈ [key], 1788–1868, French politician, jurist, and pamphleteer. He held minor offices under Napoleon,...

Cimon

(Encyclopedia)Cimon sīˈmən [key], d. 449 b.c., Athenian general and statesman; son of Miltiades. He fought at Salamis and shared command (with Aristides) of the fleet sent to rescue the Asian Greek cities from P...

Clurman, Harold

(Encyclopedia)Clurman, Harold klo͝orˈmən [key], 1901–80, American director, manager, critic, and author, b. New York City. In his early years he acted in minor roles, becoming associated with New York's Group ...

Browse by Subject