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prelude

(Encyclopedia)prelude prāˈlo͞od [key], musical composition of no universal style, usually for the keyboard. It was originally used to precede a ceremony and later a second, often larger piece. Early preludes rep...

saraband

(Encyclopedia)saraband sârˈəbănd [key], dance of Asian origin that first appeared in Spain in the 16th cent. At that time it was characterized by alternate 3–4 and 3–8 meter and was accompanied by castanets...

Rastafarianism

(Encyclopedia)Rastafarianism, a religious-cultural movement that began (1930s) in Jamaica. Rastafarians believe that Haile Selassie, also named Ras Tafari, the last emperor of Ethiopia (d. 1975), is the Messiah. Th...

Pumacagua, Mateo García

(Encyclopedia)Pumacagua, Mateo García mätāˈō gärsēˈä po͞omäkäˈgwä, –käˈwä [key], 1738–1815, Peruvian Native American leader. He aided in suppressing the insurrection (1780–81) of Tupac Amaru ...

Perlman, Selig

(Encyclopedia)Perlman, Selig, 1888–1959, American economist, b. Bialystok, Poland. His parents were active in the Zionist and labor movements of Eastern Europe. Perlman emigrated to the United States in 1918, whe...

Olcott, Henry Steel

(Encyclopedia)Olcott, Henry Steel, 1832–1907, American religious leader and author, cofounder of Theosophist movement, b. Orange, N.J. After working as an agricultural scientist and a lawyer, he and Helena Blavat...

Casorati, Felice

(Encyclopedia)Casorati, Felice fālēˈchā käsōräˈtē [key], 1886–1963, Italian painter. Influenced by Beardsley and other English engravers, Casorati, together with Carrà, was involved in the symbolist mov...

Borten, Per

(Encyclopedia)Borten, Per pĕr bôrˈtôn [key], 1913–2005, Norwegian political leader and agronomist. Active in the agricultural administration and provincial government of Sør-Trøndelag (1946–65), he served...

siphon

(Encyclopedia)siphon sīˈfən, –fŏn [key], tube or other enclosed conduit through which a liquid is lifted over an elevation and then emptied at a lower level. The movement of the liquid is driven primarily by ...

Stevens, Abel

(Encyclopedia)Stevens, Abel, 1815–97, American clergyman, noted as the historian of Methodism, b. Philadephia, studied Wesleyan Univ. He became (1834) a member of the New England Methodist Conference, and filled ...