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Beauvoir, Simone de

(Encyclopedia)Beauvoir, Simone de sēmônˈ də bōvwärˈ [key], 1908–86, French author. A leading exponent of existentialism, she is closely associated with Jean-Paul Sartre, with whom she had a life-long relat...

Sully, Maurice de

(Encyclopedia)Sully, Maurice de mōrēsˈ də sülēˈ [key], c.1100–1196, French bishop. After studying theology in Paris he was named (1160) bishop of that city. While serving in this position he instigated the...

Uyuni, Salar de

(Encyclopedia)Uyuni, Salar de sälärˈ dā o͞oyo͞oˈnē [key], salt flats (c.4,250 sq mi/11,000 sq km), Potosí dept., SW Bolivia, in the altiplano. The Río Grande de Lípez flows into the flats in the southeas...

Vaca, Cabeza de

(Encyclopedia)Vaca, Cabeza de: see Cabeza de Vaca, Álvar Núñez. ...

Val-de-Marne

(Encyclopedia)Val-de-Marne väl-də-märn [key], department (1990 pop. 1,219,300), N central France, adjoining Paris on the southeast. Créteil is the capital. ...

Valdés, Juan de

(Encyclopedia)Valdés, Juan de hwän ᵺā väldāsˈ [key], c.1500–1540, Spanish reformer, b. Cuenca. Suspected by the Inquisition, he went soon after 1530 to Naples, where he became the center of a circle of me...

Valdivia, Pedro de

(Encyclopedia)Valdivia, Pedro de pāˈdhrō dā väldēˈvyä [key], c.1500–1554, Spanish conquistador, conqueror of Chile. One of Francisco Pizarro's best officers in the conquest of Peru, educated, energetic, s...

Valera, Diego de

(Encyclopedia)Valera, Diego de dyāˈgō dā välāˈrä [key], 1412?–1488?, Spanish adventurer and writer. Reared at the Castilian court, he was page to John II and later became one of his diplomatic agents. He ...