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Hawran

(Encyclopedia)Hawran or Hauran houränˈ [key] [Heb.,=hollow or cavernous land], region, SW Syria. It is a largely treeless area marked by conical volcanic peaks, barren lava fields, and rich lava soil. In the nort...

Ebal, Mount

(Encyclopedia)Ebal, Mount ēˈbəl [key], Arabic Jabal Aybal, 3,084 ft (940 m) high, in the Samarian hills, West Bank. On Ebal, according to the Bible, the curses due for the violations of God's commands were deliv...

Himyaritic

(Encyclopedia)Himyaritic hĭmˌyərĭtˈĭk [key], another name for Old South Arabian. See Arabic languages; Afroasiatic languages. ...

Paul of Aegina

(Encyclopedia)Paul of Aegina ējīˈnə [key], 7th cent.?, Greek physician. His only extant work is a medical history in seven books; it was translated into English, with a commentary by Francis Adams (3 vol., 1844...

Dunash ben Labrat

(Encyclopedia)Dunash ben Labrat do͞oˈnäsh bĕn läˈbrät [key], 920–90, Hebrew grammarian and poet, b. Fès. He was also called Rabbi Adonim Halevy (ha-Levi). He wrote an exhaustive criticism of Menahem's Heb...

Firuzabad

(Encyclopedia)Firuzabad fĭro͞oˈzəbädˌ [key], town, Fars prov., S Iran, near Shiraz. The town has a noteworthy ...

Kayes

(Encyclopedia)Kayes kāz [key], town (1993 est. pop. 50,000), W Mali, a port on the Senegal River. It is the administrative and commercial center for a region where peanuts and gum arabic are produced. The town has...

belles-lettres

(Encyclopedia)belles-lettres bĕl-lĕˈtrə [key] [from the French for literature, literally “fine letters”], literature that is appreciated for the beauty, artistry, and originality of its style and tone rathe...

Louga

(Encyclopedia)Louga lo͞oˈgä [key], town (1988 pop. 52,763), W Senegal. Located in a region where peanuts, cassava, and gum arabic are produced, the town manufactures peanut oil and processes hides and skins. Lou...

Yaqut al-Hamawi

(Encyclopedia)Yaqut al-Hamawi yäko͞otˈ äl-hämäwēˈ [key], 1179–1229, Arab geographer. Born in Byzantium, he was bought as a slave by a merchant, al-Hamawi. He was freed on the death of his master and trave...