Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Swedenborg, Emanuel

(Encyclopedia)Swedenborg, Emanuel swēdˈənbôrg; āmäˈno͞oĕl svāˌdənbōrkˈ [key], 1688–1772, Swedish scientist, religious teacher, and mystic. His religious system, sometimes called Swedenborgianism, is...

Bach

(Encyclopedia)Bach bäkh [key], German family of distinguished musicians who flourished from the 16th through the 18th cent., its most renowned member being Johann Sebastian Bach (see separate articleBach, Johann S...

Veit, Philipp

(Encyclopedia)Veit, Philipp fēˈlĭp fīt [key], 1793–1877, German historical painter; grandson of Moses Mendelssohn. In Rome he joined the Nazarenes and was one of the most interesting members of the group. Wit...

Scheidemann, Philipp

(Encyclopedia)Scheidemann, Philipp fēˈlĭp shīˈdəmän [key], 1865–1939, German Social Democratic leader. A member of the Reichstag from 1898, he became (1918) secretary of state without portfolio in the cabi...

clavichord

(Encyclopedia)CE5 Clavichord clavichord klăvˈĭkôrd [key], keyboard musical instrument invented in the Middle Ages. It consists of a small rectangular wooden box, placed upon a table or on legs, containing a...

Emanuel, Rahm Israel

(Encyclopedia)Emanuel, Rahm Israel, 1959–, American politician, b. Chicago, grad. Sarah Lawrence College (B.A., 1981), Northwestern Univ. (M.A., 1985). A seasoned Democratic power broker and skilled dealmaker kno...

Gerhart, Emanuel Vogel

(Encyclopedia)Gerhart, Emanuel Vogel gârˈhärt [key], 1817–1904, American minister of the German Reformed Church and educator, b. Freeburg, Pa. Gerhart was president of Heidelberg College (1851–55), of Frankl...

Witte, Emanuel de

(Encyclopedia)Witte, Emanuel de āmäˈno͞oĕl də vĭtˈə [key], 1617–92, Dutch painter. Witte's paintings of architecture, genre scenes, seascapes, and portraits were influenced by the work of Elsheimer. Witt...

Smith, Alfred Emanuel

(Encyclopedia)Smith, Alfred Emanuel, 1873–1944, American political leader, b. New York City. Reared in poor surroundings, he had no formal education beyond grade school and took various jobs—including work in t...

Telemann, Georg Philipp

(Encyclopedia)Telemann, Georg Philipp gāˈôrk fēˈlĭp tĕlˈəmän [key], 1681–1767, German composer. From 1721 until his death he was director of music for the five major churches in Hamburg. Extremely proli...