Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

66 results found

Abel, son of Adam and Eve, in the Bible

(Encyclopedia)Abel, in the Bible, son of Adam and Eve, a shepherd, killed by his older brother, Cain; in the Gospel of St. Matthew, mentioned as the first martyr. ...

Tasman Sea

(Encyclopedia)Tasman Sea, arm of the S Pacific Ocean between Australia and New Zealand; named for Dutch explorer Abel Tasman. Sydney, Australia, is the largest city on the sea. ...

Shiloh, battle of

(Encyclopedia)Shiloh, battle of, Apr. 6–7, 1862, one of the great battles of the American Civil War. The battle took its name from Shiloh Church, a meetinghouse c.3 mi (5 km) SSW of Pittsburg Landing, which was a...

Crawford Notch

(Encyclopedia)Crawford Notch, water gap in the White Mts., N central N.H., through which the Saco River flows. It is named for Abel Crawford, an early settler. The area is a state park (est. 1911). ...

Cain

(Encyclopedia)Cain kān [key], in the Bible, eldest son of Adam and Eve, a tiller of the soil. In jealousy he killed his brother Abel and became a fugitive. ...

Shittim

(Encyclopedia)Shittim shĭtˈĭm [key], in the Bible, last place in which the Israelites encamped before reaching the Holy Land. It was E of Jericho. An alternate form is Abel-shittim. The valley of Shittim of the ...

Halleck, Henry Wager

(Encyclopedia)Halleck, Henry Wager, 1815–72, Union general in the American Civil War, b. Oneida co., N.Y., grad. West Point, 1839. He entered the Corps of Engineers and became an expert on fortifications; his Ele...

Maachah, ancient city-state of Syria

(Encyclopedia)Maachah or Maacah both: māˈəkə [key], ancient city-state of Syria, S of Mt. Hermon. It was held by Arameans in biblical times. The inhabitants are Maachathi or Maachathites. It is mentioned severa...

Spruance, Raymond Ames

(Encyclopedia)Spruance, Raymond Ames spro͞oˈəns [key], 1886–1969, American admiral, b. Baltimore. Commissioned in the navy in 1908, he reached the rank of rear admiral in 1939. In World War II he distinguished...

Bragg, Braxton

(Encyclopedia)Bragg, Braxton, 1817–76, Confederate general in the U.S. Civil War, b. Warrenton, N.C. A graduate of West Point, he fought the Seminole and in the Mexican War was promoted to lieutenant colonel for ...

Browse by Subject