(Encyclopedia) occultismoccultisməkŭlˈtĭzəm [key], belief in supernatural sciences or powers, such as magic, astrology, alchemy, theosophy, and spiritism, either for the purpose of enlarging man's…
(Encyclopedia) Malik, Charles Habib, 1906–87, Lebanese statesman and educator, grad. American Univ. of Beirut, 1927, Ph.D. Harvard, 1937. After teaching philosophy at the American Univ. of Beirut (…
(Encyclopedia) Keyserling, Eduard, Graf vonKeyserling, Eduard, Graf vonāˈd&oomacr;ärt gräf fən kīˈsərlĭng [key], 1855–1918, German novelist. A member of an old and aristocratic family in the…
(Encyclopedia) Astor, William Backhouse, 1829–92, American financier and sportsman, b. New York City. The son of William Backhouse Astor (1792–1875), he was a retiring man, notable principally for…
(Encyclopedia) Wadsworth, Louis Fenn, 1825–1908, American baseball player, b. Litchfield, Conn., grad. Washington College (now Trinity College), Hartford, 1844. After practicing law in New York City…
(Encyclopedia) butterfly flower,&sp;fringeflower, or poor-man's-orchid, any of the showy plants of the genus Schizanthus of the family Solanaceae (nightshade family), native to Chile but grown…
(Encyclopedia) Berners, John Bourchier, 2d BaronBerners, John Bourchier, 2d Baronbouˈchər, bûrˈnərz [key], 1467–1533, English diplomat and man of letters. A member of Parliament from 1495 to 1529, he…
(Encyclopedia) Straus, OscarStraus, Oscarôsˈkär shtrous [key], 1870–1954, Austrian composer; studied in Vienna and with Max Bruch in Berlin. After a brief career as conductor he turned entirely to…
(Encyclopedia) Becker, Boris, 1967–, German tennis player, b. Leimen, West Germany (now Germany). Noted for his powerful, often acrobatic serve-and-volley game, he gained notice in 1985 when, at 17,…
(Encyclopedia) Bale, John, 1495–1563, English dramatist and clergyman. An ardent proponent of the Reformation, he used the stage as a vehicle for his views. His most famous play, King John (written c…
