Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Siren, in Greek mythology

(Encyclopedia)Siren sīˈrən [key], in Greek mythology, one of three sea nymphs, usually represented with the head of a woman and the body of a bird. Daughters of Phorcus or of Achelous, the Sirens inhabited an is...

Skagway

(Encyclopedia)Skagway skăgˈwāˌ [key], city (1990 pop. 692), Skagway-Yakutat census div., SE Alaska, in the Panhandle, at the head of Lynn Canal; founded 1897. It is an ice-free port of entry; a trade and touris...

Barrientos Ortuño, René

(Encyclopedia)Barrientos Ortuño, René rānāˈ bär-ryānˈtōs ōrto͞oˈnyō [key], 1919–69, Bolivian political leader. Commander of the Bolivian air force, he supported the National Revolutionary Movement (M...

Shidehara, Kijuro

(Encyclopedia)Shidehara, Kijuro kēˌjo͞orōˈ shēdāˈhärä [key], 1872–1951, Japanese statesman. A career diplomat, he was ambassador to the Netherlands (1914–15), vice foreign minister (1915), and ambassa...

Shmyhal, Denys Anatoliyovych

(Encyclopedia)Shmyhal or Shmygal, Denys Anatoliyovych, 1975–, Ukrainian politician. An engineer and economist, he worked in the private sector (1995–2009), then served in the state administration for Lviv Oblas...

Shuster, George Nauman

(Encyclopedia)Shuster, George Nauman, 1894–1977, American educator, b. Lancaster, Wis., grad. Notre Dame (B.A., 1915; M.A., 1920) and Columbia (Ph.D., 1940). He was head of the department of English at Notre Dame...

Saint Elmo's fire

(Encyclopedia)Saint Elmo's fire, luminous discharge of electricity extending into the atmosphere from some projecting or elevated object. It is usually observed (often during a snowstorm or a dust storm) as brushli...

Salome

(Encyclopedia)Salome səlōˈmē [key], in the New Testament. 1 Daughter of Herod Philip and Herodias. She is generally supposed to be the daughter who danced to obtain the head of John the Baptist. See Herod 2 One...

Putnam, George Haven

(Encyclopedia)Putnam, George Haven, 1844–1930, American publisher, b. England; son of G. P. Putnam. He served in the Civil War until he was captured by the Confederates in 1864; he retired with the rank of major....

Ramgoolam, Navinchandra

(Encyclopedia)Ramgoolam, Navinchandra, 1947–, Mauritian political leader, prime minister of Mauritius, (1995–2000, 2005–14), son of of Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam. A doctor, he practiced medicine from 1975 to 1...

Browse by Subject