Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Demetrius I, king of ancient Syria

(Encyclopedia)Demetrius I (Demetrius Soter) sōˈtər [key], c.187–150 b.c., king of ancient Syria (162–150 b.c.), son of Seleucus IV. He was sent as a hostage to Rome, where he remained during the reigns of hi...

Croswell case

(Encyclopedia)Croswell case krôzˈwəl, krôsˈwĕl [key], U.S. court case involving freedom of the press. In 1803, Harry Croswell, the editor of the Wasp of Hudson, N.Y., was convicted of libeling President Thoma...

Dean, James

(Encyclopedia)Dean, James (James Byron Dean), 1931–55, American film actor, b. Marion, Ind. After a few stage and television roles, Dean was chosen to play the moody, rebellious son in the film East of Eden (1953...

Constantine VII, Byzantine emperor

(Encyclopedia)Constantine VII (Constantine Porphyrogenitus), 905–59, Byzantine emperor (913–59). He acceded after the brief reign of his uncle Alexander, who succeeded Constantine's father, Leo VI. A regency (9...

Connellsville

(Encyclopedia)Connellsville kŏnˈəlzvĭlˌ [key], city (2020 pop. 7,031), Fayette co., SW Pa., on the Youghiogheny ...

Ferguson, Sir Alex

(Encyclopedia)Ferguson, Sir Alex (Sir Alexander Chapman Ferguson), 1941–, Scottish soccer player and manager. He entered the full-time professional game in 1964, playing for Dunfermline Athletic; he played (1957�...

Hindu Kush

(Encyclopedia)Hindu Kush hĭnˈdo͞o ko͝osh [key], a high mountain system, extending c.500 mi (800 km) W from the Pamir Knot, N Pakistan, into NE Afghanistan; rising to 25,236 ft (7,692 m) in Tirich Mir, on the bo...

Annapolis Convention

(Encyclopedia)Annapolis Convention, 1786, interstate convention called by Virginia to discuss a uniform regulation of commerce. It met at Annapolis, Md. With only 5 of the 13 states—Delaware, New Jersey, New York...

Gordium

(Encyclopedia)Gordium gôrˈdēəm [key], ancient city of Asia Minor, in Phrygia and later Galatia, now in Turkey, 50 mi (80 km) SW of Ankara. It was the capital of Phrygia from c.1000 to 800 b.c. Excavations condu...

Grant, Cary

(Encyclopedia)Grant, Cary, 1904–86, British movie actor, b. Bristol as Archibald Alexander Leach. He began on stage in 1923 and made his first film in 1932. An almost immediate hit, Grant was a leading star until...