Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Bergman, Torbern Olof

(Encyclopedia)Bergman, Torbern Olof to͝orˈbərn o͞oˈlôv bĕrˈyəmän [key], 1735–84, Swedish chemist, physicist, and mineralogist. A professor at the Univ. of Uppsala from 1758, he developed a theory of che...

Bilac, Olavo

(Encyclopedia)Bilac, Olavo o͝oläˈvo͝o bēläkˈ [key], 1865–1918, Brazilian poet, journalist, and critic. He was the chief poet of the Brazilian group related to the French Parnassians. His writings have an e...

Camerarius, Rudolph Jacob

(Encyclopedia)Camerarius, Rudolph Jacob kămərârˈēəs, Ger. ro͞oˈdôlf yäˈkôp käməräˈrēo͝os [key], 1665–1721, German botanist and physician. The first to present a clear and definite picture of sex...

Veliki Ustyug

(Encyclopedia)Veliki Ustyug vyĭlyēˈkē o͝ostyo͞okˈ [key], city (1989 pop. 36,200), N central European Russia, a port on the Northern Dvina River. First mentioned as Ustyug in the 12th cent., the city later be...

Zunser, Eliakum

(Encyclopedia)Zunser, Eliakum ĕlˈyōko͝om tso͝onˈzər [key], 1846–1913, Lithuanian folk poet and singer who wrote in Yiddish. The most popular Jewish folk singer of his time, he appeared at weddings all over...

Zeyer, Julius

(Encyclopedia)Zeyer, Julius yo͝oˈlĭo͝os zāˈĕr, tsīˈər [key], 1841–1901, Czech writer. Restless, nostalgic, and mystical, Zeyer wrote ornate, almost decadent epic poetry based on ancient and medieval leg...

Berdymukhamedov, Kurbanguly

(Encyclopedia)Berdymukhamedov, Kurbanguly kho͞orbängo͞olēˈ bârdāˌmo͞okämĕdˈôf [key], 1957–, Turkmen government official, president of Turkmenistan (2007–). A dentist (grad. Turkmen State Medical I...

Kekulé von Stradonitz, Friedrich August

(Encyclopedia)Kekulé von Stradonitz, Friedrich August frēˈdrĭkh ouˈgo͝ost kāˈko͞olā fən shträˈdōnĭts [key], 1829–96, German organic chemist. He was professor at Ghent (1858–65) and at Bonn from 1...

Kumbum

(Encyclopedia)Kumbum ko͝omˈbo͝omˈ [key], large lamasery at Huangchang, NE Qinghai prov., China, c.12 mi (20 km) SW of Xining. Long a renowned pilgrimage center, it stands on the spot where Tsong-kha-pa (b.1417)...

Moos, Ludwig von

(Encyclopedia)Moos, Ludwig von lo͝otˈvĭkh fən mo͞os [key], 1910–90, Swiss political leader. Entering politics in his native town of Sachseln, he served (1941–46) as its president. He was later a government...