Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

conceptualism

(Encyclopedia)conceptualism, in philosophy, position taken on the problem of universals, initially by Peter Abelard in the 12th cent. Like nominalism it denied that universals exist independently of the mind, but i...

Clement I, Saint

(Encyclopedia)Clement I, Saint, or Clement of Rome klĕmˈənt [key], d. a.d. 97?, pope (a.d. 88?–a.d. 97?), martyr; successor of St. Cletus. He may have known the apostles Peter and Paul and was a highly esteeme...

adoptionism

(Encyclopedia)adoptionism, Christian heresy taught in Spain after 782 by Elipandus, archbishop of Toledo, and Felix, bishop of Urgel (Seo de Urgel). They held that Jesus at the time of his birth was purely human an...

Bodley, George Frederick

(Encyclopedia)Bodley, George Frederick bŏdˈlē [key], 1827–1907, English architect. One of the most prominent and prolific ecclesiastical architects, Bodley was a pupil of Sir George Gilbert Scott. A friend of ...

Lafayette, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, marquis de

(Encyclopedia)Lafayette, or La Fayette, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, marquis de märēˈ zhôzĕfˈ pôl ēv rôk zhēlbĕrˈ dü môtyāˈ märkēˈ də läfāĕtˈ [key], 1757–1834, French gen...

Britten, Benjamin, Baron Britten of Aldeburgh

(Encyclopedia)Britten, Benjamin, Baron Britten of Aldeburgh, 1913–76, English composer. Britten's most characteristic expression is found in his vocal music, much of which was written for his partner, the tenor S...

apostle

(Encyclopedia)apostle əpŏsˈəl [key] [Gr.,=envoy], one of the prime missionaries of Christianity. The apostles of the first rank are saints Peter, Andrew, James (the Greater), John, Thomas, James (the Less), Jud...

Largillière, Nicolas de

(Encyclopedia)Largillière, Nicolas de nēkôläˈ də lärzhēlyĕrˈ [key], 1656–1746, French portrait and history painter, b. Paris. He was brought up in Antwerp, and the influence of Rubens is evident in his ...

Valenciennes

(Encyclopedia)Valenciennes väläNsyĕnˈ [key], city (1990 pop. 39,276), Nord dept., N France, on the Escaut (Scheldt) River. An old-line industry center in a former coal-mining region, its manufactures include ra...

Mount Vernon, cities, United States

(Encyclopedia)Mount Vernon. 1 City (1990 pop. 16,988), seat of Jefferson co., SE Ill.; settled 1819, inc. 1872. It is a trade, rail, and industrial center in a farm and coal region. Tools, tires, transformers, coal...