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Dandolo

(Encyclopedia)Dandolo dänˈdōlō [key], ancient Venetian family that produced four doges, many admirals, and other prominent citizens. Enrico Dandolo, c.1108–1205, became doge in 1192. He is considered the foun...

Cinque Ports

(Encyclopedia)Cinque Ports sĭngk [key] [O. Fr.,=five ports], name applied to an association of maritime towns in Sussex and Kent, SE England. They originally numbered five: Hastings, Romney (now New Romney), Hythe...

Hébert, Jacques René

(Encyclopedia)Hébert, Jacques René zhäk rənāˈ ābĕrˈ [key], 1757–94, French journalist and revolutionary. An ardent supporter of the French Revolution, he gained the support of the working classes through...

Friedan, Betty Naomi

(Encyclopedia)Friedan, Betty Naomi frēdănˈ [key], 1921–2006, American social reformer and feminist, b. Peoria, Ill. as Bettye Goldstein, educated at Smith College (B.A., 1942) and the Univ. of California at Be...

Giovanni di Paolo

(Encyclopedia)Giovanni di Paolo jōvänˈnē dē päˈōlō [key], c.1403–1483, major Italian painter of the Sienese school. Typical of the Sienese painters of his era, he paid scant attention to the artistic inn...

Montesquieu, Charles Louis de Secondat, baron de la Brède et de

(Encyclopedia)Montesquieu, Charles Louis de Secondat, baron de la Brède et de shärl lwē də səkôNdäˈ bärôNˈ də lä brĕd ā də môNtĕskyüˈ [key], 1689–1755, French jurist and political philosopher....

National Guard

(Encyclopedia)National Guard, U.S. militia. The militia is authorized by the Constitution of the United States, which also defines the militia's functions and the federal and state role. Article 1, Section 8 provid...

Mercier, Honoré

(Encyclopedia)Mercier, Honoré ōnôrāˈ mĕrsyāˈ [key], 1840–94, Canadian political leader, b. Quebec prov. Opposing confederation (1867) on the ground that unification of the Canadian provinces would imperil...

passive resistance

(Encyclopedia)passive resistance a method of nonviolent protest against laws or policies in order to force a change or secure concessions; it is also known as nonviolent resistance and is the main tactic of civil d...

pawnbroker

(Encyclopedia)pawnbroker, one who makes loans on personal effects that are left as security. The practice of pawnbroking is ancient, as is recognition of the danger it involves of oppressing the poor. In fact, the ...