Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Peregrinus, Petrus

(Encyclopedia)Peregrinus, Petrus (Peter the Pilgrim) pēˈtrəs pĕrəgrĭnˈəs [key], c.1220–?, medieval scholar and soldier. The tutor of Roger Bacon, he wrote the first important study of magnetism, Epistola ...

Tucholsky, Kurt

(Encyclopedia)Tucholsky, Kurt ko͝ort to͞okhôlˈskē [key], 1890–1935, German political satirist and journalist. Ranging over a wide variety of subjects and styles, Tucholsky's pacifist, antifascist writing mar...

Berra, Yogi

(Encyclopedia)Berra, Yogi (Lawrence Peter Berra) bĕrˈə [key], 1925–2014, American baseball player and manager, b. St. Louis. An outstanding catcher with the New York Yankees (1946–63), Berra was the American...

Bering Island

(Encyclopedia)Bering Island bērˈĭng, bârˈ– [key], Rus. Beringa, largest of the Komandorski Islands, c.55 mi (90 km) long and up to c.15 mi (20 km) wide, off Kamchatka peninsula, E Russian Far East, in the Be...

Simeon

(Encyclopedia)Simeon or Symeon both: sĭmˈēŏn [key], in the Bible. 1 Second son of Jacob and Leah and ancestor of the southernmost tribe of Israel. He and his tribe are seldom mentioned individually. 2 Devout ma...

Bannister, Sir Roger Gilbert

(Encyclopedia)Bannister, Sir Roger Gilbert, 1929–2018, British athlete and neurologist. On May 6, 1954, at Oxford's Iffley Road track, Bannister, a medical student, became the first man to run the mile in less th...

Mühlenberg, Heinrich Melchior

(Encyclopedia)Mühlenberg, Heinrich Melchior myo͞oˈlənbûrg [key], 1746–1807, American clergyman, Revolutionary officer, and legislator, eldest son of Heinrich, was born in Trappe, Pa., and studied at Halle. A...

miniature painting

(Encyclopedia)miniature painting [Ital.,=artwork, especially manuscript initial letters, done with the red lead pigment minium; the word originally had no implication as to size]. In a general sense the term denote...

Artaud, Antonin

(Encyclopedia)Artaud, Antonin äNtônăNˈ ärtōˈ [key], 1896–1948, French poet, actor, and director. During the 1920s and 30s he was associated with various experimental theater groups in Paris, and he cofound...

Frescobaldi, Girolamo

(Encyclopedia)Frescobaldi, Girolamo jērôˈlämō frāskōbälˈdē [key], 1583–1643, Italian organist and composer. He became organist at St. Peter's in Rome in 1608, where huge crowds came during most of his l...