Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

crèche

(Encyclopedia)crèche krĕsh, krāsh [key], representation of the Infant Jesus in the manger, usually surrounded by figures of Mary, Joseph, shepherds, animals, and the Wise Men; also called Christmas Crib. The cr...

Roux, Jacques

(Encyclopedia)Roux, Jacques zhäk ro͞o [key], d. 1794, French revolutionary. A priest in Paris, he abandoned the priesthood at the start of the French Revolution. Roux was a member of the Commune of Paris of Aug.,...

New Year's Day

(Encyclopedia)New Year's Day, among ancient peoples the first day of the year frequently corresponded to the vernal or autumnal equinox, or to the summer or winter solstice. In the Middle Ages it was celebrated amo...

Thompson, Jacob

(Encyclopedia)Thompson, Jacob, 1810–85, U.S. Representative (1839–51) and Secretary of the Interior (1857–61), b. Caswell co., N.C. Thompson was a prosperous lawyer and prominent Democrat of Oxford, Miss. He ...

Pangalos, Theodore

(Encyclopedia)Pangalos, Theodore pängˈgälôs [key], 1878–1952, Greek general and politician. He was instrumental in the overthrow (1922) of King Constantine I and initially supported the republic (1924). In Ju...

Wood, Fernando

(Encyclopedia)Wood, Fernando, 1812–81, American politician, b. Philadelphia. He became a successful shipping merchant in New York City and a leader of Tammany Hall. Wood was elected mayor in 1854 and was reelecte...

Zamość

(Encyclopedia)Zamość zäˈmôstsyə [key], Rus. Zamostye, town (1993 pop. 63,500),Lubelskie prov., SE Poland, on the Łabuńką River. It is a commercial center, trading mainly in agricultural products. The town'...

Malipiero, Gian Francesco

(Encyclopedia)Malipiero, Gian Francesco jän fränchāˈskō mälēpyāˈrō [key], 1882–1973, Italian composer. Malipiero studied in Venice and Bologna with Enrico Bossi and taught at the Conservatory of Parma, ...

Deburau, Jean Gaspard

(Encyclopedia)Deburau or Debureau, Jean Gaspard both: zhäN gäspärˈ dəbürōˈ [key], 1796–1846, French pantomime performer, whose original name was Jan Kaspar Dvorjak, b. Bohemia. He became famous for his in...

Browse by Subject