Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Al-Fasi, Isaac ben Jacob ha-Kohen

(Encyclopedia)Al-Fasi, Isaac ben Jacob ha-Kohen äl-fäˈsē [key], 1013–1103, prominent Jewish Talmudic scholar of the very late Gaonic period, b. near Fès, N Africa. He headed the rabbinical school at Fès unt...

consul

(Encyclopedia)consul, title of the two chief magistrates of ancient Rome. The institution is supposed to have arisen with the expulsion of the kings, traditionally in 510 b.c., and it was well established by the ea...

consent

(Encyclopedia)consent, in law, active acquiescence or silent compliance by a person legally capable of consenting (see age of consent). It may be evidenced by words or acts or by silence when silence implies concur...

Alarcón, Juan Ruiz de

(Encyclopedia)Alarcón, Juan Ruiz de dā älärkōnˈ [key], 1581?–1639, Spanish dramatic poet, one of the great literary figures of the Spanish Golden Age, b. Mexico. After practicing law in Spain (1600–1608)...

charleston, dance

(Encyclopedia)charleston, social dance of the United States popular in the mid-1920s. The charleston is characterized by outward heel kicks combined with an up-and-down movement achieved by bending and straightenin...

Cockran, William Bourke

(Encyclopedia)Cockran, William Bourke kŏkˈrən [key], 1854–1923, American political leader, b. Co. Sligo, Ireland. He emigrated to New York City at the age of 17 and in 1876 was admitted to the bar. At first op...

Ibáñez del Campo, Carlos

(Encyclopedia)Ibáñez del Campo, Carlos kärˈlōs ēbäˈnyās ᵺĕl kämˈpō [key], 1877–1960, president of Chile (1927–31, 1952–58). An army general who served as minister of war (1925–27) and vice pr...

infectious canine hepatitis

(Encyclopedia)infectious canine hepatitis, acute viral disease of canines, especially dogs and foxes. The causative agent, an adenovirus, is not infectious to humans. In foxes the disease is manifested primarily as...

Home, Daniel Dunglas

(Encyclopedia)Home, Daniel Dunglas hyo͞om [key], 1833–86, Scottish-American spiritualist medium, b. Edinburgh, Scotland. He was taken to the United States when a small child. At age 13 he claimed to have discove...

Browse by Subject