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Abzug, Bella Savitsky

(Encyclopedia)Abzug, Bella Savitsky səvĭtˈskē ăbˈzo͝og [key], 1920–98, U.S. politician, b. New York City. A lawyer and a Democrat, she helped found Women Strike for Peace (1961) and the reformist New Democ...

Borinage

(Encyclopedia)Borinage bôrēnäzhˈ [key], region, Hainaut prov., S Belgium, surrounding Mons and extending to the French border. Traditionally a coal-mining district, most of the mines have been closed. Glass-mak...

Eunapius

(Encyclopedia)Eunapius yo͞onāˈpēəs [key], b. c.347, Greek Neoplatonic philosopher, whose Lives of the Philosophers and Sophists is a most valuable primary source. His continuation of Dexippus' history is lost....

Socrates Scholasticus

(Encyclopedia)Socrates Scholasticus, fl. 5th cent., Byzantine historian. His Ecclesiastical History (in Greek, 7 vol.) continues the work of Eusebius for the period from 305 to 439. The work is unusual for its obje...

cruiser

(Encyclopedia)cruiser, large, fast, moderately armed warship, intermediate in type between the aircraft carrier and the destroyer. During World War II, battle cruisers operated as small battleships, combining in on...

polycythemia

(Encyclopedia)polycythemia pŏlˌēsīthēˈmēə [key], condition characterized by an increase in the production of red blood cells, or erythrocytes, in the blood. Primary polycythemia, also called erythremia, or ...

Pleasanton

(Encyclopedia)Pleasanton, city (1990 pop. 50,553), Alameda co., W Calif., a suburb of the San Francisco–Oakland area, in a vineyard and dairy region; inc. 1894. Wine and cheese are produced, and there are publish...

cosmic rays

(Encyclopedia)cosmic rays, charged particles moving at nearly the speed of light reaching the earth from outer space. Primary cosmic rays consist mostly of protons (nuclei of hydrogen atoms), some alpha particles (...

Lindsay, John Vliet

(Encyclopedia)Lindsay, John Vliet vlēt [key], 1921–2000, American politician, mayor of New York City (1966–73), b. New York City. He practiced law and then served (1955–57) as executive assistant to Attorney...

political action committee

(Encyclopedia)political action committee (PAC), U.S. organization formed by a corporation, labor union, or association to raise money for political activity. Funds can be gathered by voluntary contributions from me...