(Encyclopedia) Aetolian League, confederation centering in the cities of Aetolia. It was formed in the 4th cent. b.c. and began to gain power in the 3d cent. in opposing the Achaean League and the…
(Encyclopedia) Adolf of NassauAdolf of Nassaunäˈsou [key], d. 1298, duke of Luxembourg, German king (1292–98). He owed his election to the ecclesiastical electors, who, fearing the growing power and…
(Encyclopedia) Three Mile Island, site of a nuclear power plant 10 mi (16 km) south of Harrisburg, Pa. On Mar. 28, 1979, failure of the cooling system of the No. 2 nuclear reactor led to overheating…
(Encyclopedia) Sorel, GeorgesSorel, Georgeszhôrzh [key]Sorel, Georges sôrĕlˈ [key], 1847–1922, French social philosopher. An engineer before he devoted himself to writing, Sorel found in the…
(Encyclopedia) resistor, two-terminal electric circuit component that offers opposition to an electric current. Resistors are normally designed and operated so that, with varying levels of current,…
(Encyclopedia) chain, flexible series of connected links used in various ways, especially for the transmission of motive power, for hoisting (see pulley), and for securing or fastening. Commonly,…
(Encyclopedia) windmill, apparatus that harnesses wind power for a variety of uses, e.g., pumping water, grinding corn, driving small sawmills, and driving electrical generators. Windmills were…
(Encyclopedia) Pufendorf, Samuel, Baron vonPufendorf, Samuel, Baron vonzäˈm&oomacr;ĕl bärônˈ fən p&oomacr;ˈfəndôrf [key], 1632–94, German jurist and historian. He is especially noted as an…
Iraqi political leaderBorn: 4/28/1937Birthplace: Tikrit, Iraq Hussein was raised in the farming village of Tikrit by his widowed mother. He joined the Ba'ath Socialist party in 1957 and was soon…
