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Danegeld

(Encyclopedia)Danegeld dānˈgĕldˌ [key], medieval land tax originally raised to buy off raiding Danes and later used for military expenditures. In England the tribute was first levied in 868, then in 871 by Alfr...

Berkshire

(Encyclopedia)Berkshire bärks, bûrks [key], former county, S central England. Part of the ancient kingdom of Wessex and the birthplace of King Alfred, the county of Berkshire was abolished as an administrative en...

Thurow, Lester Carl

(Encyclopedia)Thurow, Lester Carl tho͝orˈō, thərōˈ [key], 1938–2016, American economist, b. Livingston, Mont.; B.A. Williams College, 1960; M.A. Oxford, 1962; Ph.D. Harvard, 1964. Professor of management an...

Vanderbilt, Cornelius

(Encyclopedia)Vanderbilt, Cornelius, 1794–1877, American railroad magnate, b. Staten Island, N.Y. As a boy he ferried freight and passengers from Staten Island to Manhattan, and he soon gained control of most of ...

Wilde, Oscar

(Encyclopedia)Wilde, Oscar (Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde), 1854–1900, Irish author and wit, b. Dublin. He is most famous for his sophisticated, brilliantly witty plays, which were the first since the come...

Harris, Joel Chandler

(Encyclopedia)Harris, Joel Chandler, 1848–1908, American short-story writer and humorist, b. Eatonton, Ga., considered one of the great American regionalist writers. As an apprentice to the editor of the Countrym...

foundation

(Encyclopedia)foundation, institution through which private wealth is contributed and distributed for public purpose. Foundations have existed since Greek and Roman times, when they honored deities. During the Midd...

Cooper, Alfred Duff, 1st Viscount Norwich of Aldwick

(Encyclopedia)Cooper, Alfred Duff, 1st Viscount Norwich of Aldwick ko͞oˈpər, ko͝opˈər [key], 1890–1954, British statesman and diplomat. Elected to Parliament as a Conservative (Unionist) in 1924, he served ...

Basingstoke

(Encyclopedia)Basingstoke bāˈzĭngstōk [key], city, Hampshire, S central England, on the North Downs. Formerly a ...

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