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Provensen, Alice

(Encyclopedia)Provensen, Alice, 1918–2018, b. Chicago as Alice Rose Twitchell, and Martin Provensen prōˈvĕnsĕn [key], 1916–87, b. Chicago, American children's book authors and illustrators. They both attend...

Carter Family

(Encyclopedia)Carter Family, group of singers that specialized in traditional music of the Southern Appalachian Mountains; it consisted of A(lvin) P(leasant) Carter, 1891–1960, b. Maces Spring, Va.; his wife, Sar...

Sunday school

(Encyclopedia)Sunday school, institution for instruction in religion and morals, usually conducted in churches as part of the church organization but sometimes maintained by other religious or philanthropic bodies....

Barbauld, Anna Letitia (Aikin)

(Encyclopedia)Barbauld, Anna Letitia (Aikin) bärˈbôld [key], 1743–1825, English poet and editor. In 1774 she married Rochemont Barbauld and with him opened a boarding school. Her Hymns in Prose for children, w...

Hermas, Shepherd of

(Encyclopedia)Hermas, Shepherd of herˈməs [key], Christian apocalyptic work, composed in Rome c.a.d. 139–a.d. 155. It is a collection of revelations given to Hermas, a devout Christian, by an angel (Shepherd) a...

Safdie, Moshe

(Encyclopedia)Safdie, Moshe mōshāˈ säfˈdē [key], 1938–, Israeli-Canadian architect, b. Haifa. He grew up in Israel, moved to Canada with his family at 15, studied architecture at McGill Univ. and with Louis...

peanut

(Encyclopedia)peanut, name for a low, annual leguminous plant (Arachis hypogaea) of the family Leguminosae (pulse family) and for its edible seeds. Native to South America and cultivated there for millenia, it is s...

Book of the Dead

(Encyclopedia)Book of the Dead, term used to describe Egyptian funerary literature. The texts consist of charms, spells, and formulas for use by the deceased in the afterworld and contain many of the basic ideas of...

social welfare

(Encyclopedia)social welfare or public charity, organized provision of educational, cultural, medical, and financial assistance to the needy. Modern social welfare measures may include any of the following: the car...

Apaturia

(Encyclopedia)Apaturia ăpəcho͝oˈrēə, –tyo͝oˈrēə [key], in Greek religion, annual festival celebrated by the Ionians and the Athenians. It was held in October or November, in the season when various phra...