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Cygnus

(Encyclopedia)Cygnus sĭgˈnəs [key] [Lat.,=the swan], northern constellation located SE of Draco and NW of Pegasus. It was depicted as a bird by most ancient cultures. It is sometimes called the Northern Cross be...

Judah, place in the Bible

(Encyclopedia)Judah, in the Bible, the southern of the two kingdoms remaining after the division of the kingdom of the Jews that occurred under Rehoboam. The northern kingdom, Israel, was continually at war with Ju...

fugitive slave laws

(Encyclopedia)fugitive slave laws, in U.S. history, the federal acts of 1793 and 1850 providing for the return between states of escaped black slaves. Similar laws existing in both North and South in colonial days ...

McCormack, John

(Encyclopedia)McCormack, John, 1884–1945, Irish-American tenor, b. Athlone, Ireland. He made his debut in London in 1907. In 1909, Oscar Hammerstein brought him to the United States. After his debut in New York C...

Marianus Scotus, 1028–c.1082, Irish monk and chronicler

(Encyclopedia)Marianus Scotus mărēāˈnəs skōˈtəs [key], 1028–c.1082, Irish monk and chronicler, whose Gaelic name was Mael-brigte. He left Ireland in 1056 and lived on the Continent until his death. His ch...

Arklow

(Encyclopedia)Arklow ärˈklō [key], town, Co. Wicklow, E Republic of Ireland, on St. George's Channel at the mouth of the Avoca River. The town has become a popular resort and has a s...

Palladius, Saint

(Encyclopedia)Palladius, Saint pəlāˈdēəs [key], d. 431, first bishop of Ireland. Probably of Gallo-Roman origin, Palladius was sent (431) by Pope Celestine I to proselytize among the Irish. He built three chur...

Suir

(Encyclopedia)Suir sho͝or [key], river, 85 mi (137 km) long, rising on Devilsbit Mt., central Republic of Ireland. It flows south through a fertile agricultural region, then east past Clonmel and Waterford to the ...

waxwing

(Encyclopedia)waxwing, any of three species of perching songbirds of the Northern Hemisphere. Waxwings have crests (raised only in alarm) and sleek brownish-gray plumage with flecks of red pigment resembling sealin...

bearberry

(Encyclopedia)bearberry, any plant of the northern and alpine genus Arctostaphylos of the family Ericaceae (heath family), especially A. uvaursi, a trailing evergreen sometimes cultivated as a ground cover. The sma...