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Barton, Elizabeth

(Encyclopedia)Barton, Elizabeth, 1506?–1534, English prophet, called the Maid of Kent or the Nun of Kent. She was a domestic servant who, after a period of illness, began (c.1525) to go into trances and to utter ...

hajj

(Encyclopedia)hajj häj [key], the pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, one of the five basic requirements (arkan or “pillars”) of Islam. Its annual observance corresponds to the major holy day id al-adha, itself...

Samuel

(Encyclopedia)Samuel, two books of the Bible, originally a single work, called First and Second Samuel in modern Bibles, and First and Second Kingdoms in the Septuagint. They are considered part of “Deuteronomist...

Gray, George

(Encyclopedia)Gray, George, 1840–1925, American jurist, b. New Castle, Del. A lawyer, he was (1879–85) attorney general of Delaware and (1885–99) a Democratic senator. Gray often served (1898–1916) on inter...

Brandywine, battle of

(Encyclopedia)Brandywine, battle of, in the American Revolution, fought Sept. 11, 1777, along Brandywine Creek. The creek, formed by two small branches in SE Pennsylvania, flows southeast to join, near Wilmington, ...

Carlson, Evans Fordyce

(Encyclopedia)Carlson, Evans Fordyce, 1896–1947, U.S. marine officer, b. Delaware co., N.Y. Enlisting at 16 in the army, he served in the Philippines and Hawaii and in France during World War I. In the U.S. marin...

New Jersey

(Encyclopedia)CE5 New Jersey, Middle Atlantic state of the E United States. It is bordered by New York State (N and, across the Hudson River and New York Harbor, E), the Atlantic Ocean (E), Delaware, across Dela...

An Najaf

(Encyclopedia)An Najaf än näˈjäf [key], city (2020 pop. 874,000), S central Iraq, on a lake near the Euphrates River. The city, one of Shi'a Islam's holiest, is also called Mashad A...

Micah, persons in the Bible

(Encyclopedia)Micah mīˈkə [key], in the Bible. 1 Prophet, author of the book of Micah. 2 Levite. It is also spelled Michah. 3 Ephraimite whose sacred belongings were taken from him. 4 Son of Mephibosheth. It is ...

Obadiah, persons in the Bible

(Encyclopedia)Obadiah ōˌbədīˈə [key], in the Bible. 1 Prophet, author of the book of Obadiah. 2 Ahab's major-domo. 3 Descendant of David. 4 One of David's mighty men. 5 Prince under Jehoshaphat. 6 Repairer of...