(Encyclopedia) ultraviolet radiation, invisible electromagnetic radiation between visible violet light and X rays; it ranges in wavelength from about 400 to 4 nanometers and in frequency from about…
(Encyclopedia) Laurens, HenryLaurens, Henrylôrˈənz, lärˈ– [key], 1724–92, political leader in the American Revolution, b. Charleston, S.C. A wealthy merchant and planter, he was, in the years…
(Encyclopedia) Kukai or Kobo-DaishiKobo-Daishik&oomacr;ˈkī, kōˈbō-dīˈshē [key], 774–835, Japanese priest, scholar, and artist, founder of the Shingon or “True Word” sect of Buddhism. Of…
(Encyclopedia) monitor, any of various, mostly tropical lizards. A monitor lizard has a heavy body, long head and neck, long tail that comes to a whiplike end, and strong legs with sharp claws. Its…
(Encyclopedia) MonticelloMonticellomŏnˌtĭsĕlˈō, –chĕlˈō [key] [Ital.,=little mountain], estate, 640 acres (259 hectares), central Va., near Charlottesville; home of Thomas Jefferson for 56 years. The…
(Encyclopedia) Nashe or Nash, ThomasNashe or Nash, Thomasboth: năsh [key], 1567–1601, English satirist. Very little is known of his life. Although his first publications appeared in 1589, it was not…
(Encyclopedia) narodnikinarodnikinärôdˈnĭkē [key], Russian populists, adherents of an agrarian socialist movement active from the 1860s to the end of the 19th cent. Influenced by the writings of…
(Encyclopedia) anaphylaxisanaphylaxisănˌəfəlăkˈsĭs [key], hypersensitive state that may develop after introduction of a foreign protein or other antigen into the body tissues. When an anaphylactic…
(Encyclopedia) epinephrineepinephrineĕpˌənĕfˈrīn [key], hormone important to the body's metabolism, also known as adrenaline. Epinephrine, a catecholamine, together with norepinephrine, is secreted…
(Encyclopedia) dielectricdielectricdīˌĭlĕkˈtrĭk [key], material that does not conduct electricity readily, i.e., an insulator (see insulation). A good dielectric should also have other properties: It…
