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Fersen, Count Fredrik Axel

(Encyclopedia)Fersen, Count Fredrik Axel frāˈdrĭk äkˈsəl fĕrˈsən [key], 1719–94, Swedish politician and soldier. He served (1743–48) in the French army and retired as brigadier general. As lieutenant g...

flying dragon

(Encyclopedia)flying dragon, gliding lizard of the genus Draco, found in tropical forests of SE Asia. There are about 15 species. Most are about 8 in. (20 cm) long. On either side of the lizard's body are thin, win...

Menander

(Encyclopedia)Menander mĭnănˈdər [key], 342?–291? b.c., Greek poet, the most famous writer of New Comedy. He wrote ingenious plays using the love plot as his theme; his style is elegant and elaborate and his ...

Mistral, Frédéric

(Encyclopedia)Mistral, Frédéric frādārēkˈ mēsträlˈ [key], 1830–1914, French Provençal poet. With Théodore Aubanel he was one of the seven founders (1854) of the Félibrige, an organization to promote P...

Austral Islands

(Encyclopedia)Austral Islands ôˈstrəl [key], volcanic island group, South Pacific, part of French Polynesia. They are sometimes known as the Tubuai Islands. The group comprises ...

O'Neil, Buck

(Encyclopedia)O'Neil, Buck (John Jordan O'Neil), 1911–2006, African-American baseball player and coach, b. Carrabelle, Fla. One of the stars of the Negro leagues, he began playing semipro baseball at 12, and his ...

Pallava

(Encyclopedia)Pallava pəläˈvä [key], S Indian dynasty that established its capital at Kanchipuram in the 4th cent. a.d. Of obscure origin, it grew wealthy and strong and is most noted for its patronage of Dravi...

Pell, Claiborne de Borda

(Encyclopedia)Pell, Claiborne de Borda, 1918–2009, U.S. politician, b. New York City, grad. Princeton (B.A., 1940), Columbia (M.A., 1946). From an old, distinguished American family, he served (1941–45) in the ...

Penry, John

(Encyclopedia)Penry, John, 1559–93, British Puritan author, an instigator of the Marprelate controversy, b. Wales, grad. Cambridge and Oxford. While at college he became an ardent Puritan. In 1587 his pamphlet as...

Mathews, Shailer

(Encyclopedia)Mathews, Shailer, 1863–1941, American theologian, educator, and author, b. Portland, Maine, studied at Colby College, at Newton Theological Institution, and at the Univ. of Berlin. After seven years...