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Galahad, Sir

(Encyclopedia)Galahad, Sir gălˈəhădˌ [key], hero of Arthurian legend. He was the son of Launcelot and Elaine, the daughter of King Pelles. Because he was the noblest and purest of the knights of Christendom, h...

Pelleas, Sir

(Encyclopedia)Pelleas, Sir: see Arthurian legend. ...

Percivale, Sir

(Encyclopedia)Percivale, Sir: see Arthurian legend and Parsifal. ...

Golden Gate Bridge

(Encyclopedia)Golden Gate Bridge, across the Golden Gate from San Francisco to Marin Co., W Calif.; built 1933–37. Its overall length is 9,266 ft (2,824 m); its main span across the strait, 4,200 ft (1,280 m), is...

Jayhawkers

(Encyclopedia)Jayhawkers, term applied to free-state guerrilla fighters opposed to the proslavery “border ruffians” during the struggle over Kansas in the years prior to the Civil War. Later, during the war, it...

Lewinsky scandal

(Encyclopedia)Lewinsky scandal ləwĭnˈskē [key], sensation that enveloped the presidency of Bill Clinton in 1998–99, leading to his impeachment by the U.S. House of Representatives and acquittal by the Senate....

Longford, Elizabeth

(Encyclopedia)Longford, Elizabeth lôngˈfərd [key], 1906–2002, British author. Born Elizabeth Harman, she married (1931) Frank Pakenham, later (1961) earl of Longford. She was educated at Oxford, lectured for t...

Vries, David Pietersen de

(Encyclopedia)Vries, David Pietersen de də vrēs [key], b. c.1593, Dutch merchant captain and colonizer. An experienced mariner, Vries, in partnership with directors of the Dutch West India Company, founded (1631...

Grillparzer, Franz

(Encyclopedia)Grillparzer, Franz fränts grĭlˈpärtsər [key], 1791–1872, Austrian dramatist. His work combines German classicism and exuberant lyricism. Considered Austria's greatest playwright, he wrote Der T...

Lindsay, Sir David

(Encyclopedia)Lindsay or Lyndsay, Sir David both: lĭnˈzē [key], c.1490–c.1555, Scottish poet. He was a courtier and diplomat by profession. As a writer he was a harsh satirist and moralist who directed most of...