Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Pesellino, Il

(Encyclopedia)Pesellino, Il ēl pāzāl–lēˈnō [key], 1422–57, Italian painter of the Florentine school, whose real name was Francesco di Stefano. He was a grandson and pupil of Giuliano Giuochi, called Pesel...

Mariotte, Edme

(Encyclopedia)Mariotte, Edme ĕdˈmə märyôtˈ [key], 1620?–1684, French physicist. His De la nature de l'air (1676) includes a statement of Boyle's law (see gas laws), which he discovered independently and whi...

Fourier, Jean Baptiste Joseph, Baron

(Encyclopedia)Fourier, Jean Baptiste Joseph, Baron, 1768–1830, French mathematician and physicist. He was noted for his researches on heat and on numerical equations. He originated Fourier's theorem on vibratory ...

antihistamine

(Encyclopedia)antihistamine ănˌtĭhĭsˈtəmēn [key], any one of a group of compounds having various chemical structures and characterized by the ability to antagonize the effects of histamine. Their principal u...

Oberholtzer, Ellis Paxson

(Encyclopedia)Oberholtzer, Ellis Paxson ōˈbərhōltˌsər [key], 1868–1936, American historian, b. Chester co., Pa. He studied abroad and then worked on various Philadelphia newspapers. He edited the Manufactur...

Bradley, James

(Encyclopedia)Bradley, James, 1693–1762, English astronomer. His discovery of the aberration of light, announced in 1728, provided an important line of evidence for the motion of the earth around the sun. In 1742...

Jooss, Kurt

(Encyclopedia)Jooss, Kurt ko͝ort yōs [key], 1901–79, German dancer, producer, and choreographer. Jooss was a student of Rudolf von Laban and was influenced by Émile Jacques-Dalcroze. The Green Table (1932), hi...

Ciardi, John

(Encyclopedia)Ciardi, John chēärˈdē [key], 1916–86, American poet, b. Boston, grad. Tufts College, B.A., 1938, Univ. of Michigan, M.A., 1939. His poetry, noted for its wit and perception, includes Homeward to...

Sabines

(Encyclopedia)Sabines sāˈbīnz [key], ancient people of central Italy, centered principally in the Sabine Hills, NE of Rome. Not much dependable information on them can be gathered. They were probably Oscan-speak...

Norwegian elkhound

(Encyclopedia)Norwegian elkhound, breed of compact hound whose origins in Norway go back more than 5,000 years. It stands about 19 in. (48.3 cm) high at the shoulder and weighs between 40 and 50 lb (18.1–22.7 kg)...