Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

undine

(Encyclopedia)undine əndēnˈ, ŭnˈdēn [key], in folklore, female water sprite who could acquire a soul by marrying a human being. If, however, her lover proved unfaithful, she had to return to the sea. The lege...

Menomonie

(Encyclopedia)Menomonie mənŏmˈənē [key], city (1990 pop. 13,547), seat of Dunn co., W Wis., on the Red Cedar River; platted 1859, inc. 1882. Once a lumber town, it is a trade center in an area of poultry and d...

Kiyoura, Keigo

(Encyclopedia)Kiyoura, Keigo, 1850–1942, Japanese government official and political leader. He joined the ministry of justice in 1876 and participated in the drafting of new legal codes for Japan. He held several...

Willingdon, Freeman Freeman-Thomas, 1st marquess of

(Encyclopedia)Willingdon, Freeman Freeman-Thomas, 1st marquess of, 1866–1941, British colonial administrator. He was a Liberal member of Parliament from 1900 to 1910. He served as governor of Bombay presidency (1...

Pavlova, Anna Matveyevna

(Encyclopedia)Pavlova, Anna Matveyevna pävlōˈvə, Rus. änˈnə mətvyāˈəvnə pävˈləvə [key], 1881–1931, Russian ballerina. In 1892 she entered the Imperial Ballet School, St. Petersburg. She made her d...

Puy-en-Velay, Le

(Encyclopedia)Puy-en-Velay, Le lə püēˈ-äN-vəlāˈ [key], city (1990 pop. 23,434), capital of Haute-Loire dept., S central France. Le Puy-en-Velay is the center of an old lace industry, as well as traditional ...

Coe, Sebastian Newbold, Baron Coe of Ranmore

(Encyclopedia)Coe, Sebastian Newbold, Baron Coe of Ranmore, 1956–, British runner, politician, and athletic official. He set several world records as a middle-distance runner, including one in the 800-m race that...

Browse by Subject