(Encyclopedia) politburo, the former central policy-making and governing body of the Communist party of the Soviet Union and, with minor variations, of other Communist parties. It was first created…
(Encyclopedia) Villiers de l'Isle-Adam, Philippe Auguste Mathias, comte deVilliers de l'Isle-Adam, Philippe Auguste Mathias, comte defēlēpˈ ōgüstˈ mätyäsˈ kôNt də vēyāˈ də lēˈl-ädäNˈ [key], 1838–89,…
actressBorn: 5/7/1923Birthplace: Michigan City, Indiana A versatile stage and screen performer, she won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her work in The Razor's Edge (1946). She is…
writerBorn: 1965Birthplace: Appleton, Wisconsin The daughter of Chinese immigrants, Chang left Wisconsin at 18 to attend college at Yale University, where—after trying pre-med and pre-law classes—…
(Encyclopedia) midsummer day and midsummer night, names given to the feast of the nativity of St. John the Baptist (June 24) and the preceding night (St. John's Eve, June 23). Because midsummer is…
(Encyclopedia) Trevithick, RichardTrevithick, Richardtrĕvˈĭthĭk [key], 1771–1833, British engineer and inventor, b. Cornwall. He is known as the father of locomotive power because of his invention (…
(Encyclopedia) Thornhill, Sir James, 1676–1734, English decorative artist. George I made him court painter and later knighted him. He executed decorations in Hampton Court and the cupola of St. Paul'…
(Encyclopedia) AdamAdamădˈəm [key], [Heb.,=man], in the Bible, the first man. In the Book of Genesis, God creates humankind in his image as a species of male and female, giving them dominion over…
Visit the Interactive Baby Name Finder for more popular baby names. 1. Jacob, Joshua 2. Matthew, Michael 3. Daniel, David 4. Ella, Emma 5. Isaac, Isaiah 6…
Holi is literally one of the most colorful festivals in the world. Hindus celebrate the festival in early March, when wheat is harvested. Holi commemorates spring and the mythological stories of…
