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Fellenberg, Philipp Emanuel von

(Encyclopedia)Fellenberg, Philipp Emanuel von fēˈlĭp āmäˈno͞oĕl fən fĕlˈənbĕrkh [key], 1771–1844, Swiss educator and agriculturist. He purchased (1799) an estate, Hofwyl (near Bern), where he put int...

fermented milk

(Encyclopedia)fermented milk, whole or skim milk curdled to beverage or custardlike consistency by lactic-acid-producing microorganisms. Many forms of fermented milk were used by early nomadic herders, especially i...

Ferrer Guardia, Francisco

(Encyclopedia)Ferrer Guardia, Francisco fränthēsˈkō fārārˈ gwärˈdyä [key], 1859–1909, Spanish political theorist and educator. An ardent liberal, anticlerical, and republican, he took refuge in France (...

Feuermann, Emanuel

(Encyclopedia)Feuermann, Emanuel āmäˈno͞oĕl foiˈərmän [key], 1902–42, Austrian-born virtuoso cellist. He appeared with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra at the age of 11 and later (1917–23) taught at th...

absentee ownership

(Encyclopedia)absentee ownership, system under which a person (or a corporation) controls and derives income from land in a region where he does not reside. Abuses existed in absenteeism in pre-Revolutionary France...

Antiochus I

(Encyclopedia)Antiochus I (Antiochus Soter) āntīˈəkəs sōˈtər [key], b. c.324 b.c., d. c.262 or 261 b.c., king of Syria (280–261? b.c.), son of Seleucus I. He did not, like his father, seek to expand in Eu...

Hines, Earl “Fatha”

(Encyclopedia)Hines, Earl “Fatha” (Earl Kenneth Hines) fäˈᵺə [key], 1903–83, American jazz pianist, b. Duquesne, Pa. The son of musicians, he played jazz piano in big bands as a young man and in 1927 joi...

ham, food

(Encyclopedia)ham, hind leg of a hog above the hock joint, prepared for food by curing or smoking. Ham is one of the earliest of preserved meats; it is now a leading product of the meatpacking industry. The flavor ...

ground ivy

(Encyclopedia)ground ivy, trailing perennial herb of the genus Glechoma of the family Labiatae (mint family), closely related to catnip and naturalized from Europe. It forms a dense ground cover and spreads rapidly...

Fry, Elizabeth (Gurney)

(Encyclopedia)Fry, Elizabeth (Gurney), 1780–1845, English prison reformer and philanthropist. Deeply religious, she was recognized as a minister by the Society of Friends (Quakers). From 1813 she worked untiringl...

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