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figure of speech

(Encyclopedia)figure of speech, intentional departure from straight-forward, literal use of language for the purpose of clarity, emphasis, or freshness of expression. See separate articles on antithesis; apostrophe...

Finland, Gulf of

(Encyclopedia)Finland, Gulf of, eastern arm of the Baltic Sea, c.285 mi (460 km) long and from c.10 to c.75 mi (15–120 km) wide, between Finland and Russia and Estonia. The shallow gulf receives the Narva River a...

Amalric of Bena

(Encyclopedia)Amalric of Bena bēˈnə [key], d. 1207?, French professor of philosophy. He taught heretical precepts concerning God, a pantheistic universe, and a progressive Trinity. Before he died, he publicly re...

Exchequer, Court of

(Encyclopedia)Exchequer, Court of ĕkschĕkˈər, ĕksˈchĕkˌər [key], in English history, governmental agency. It originated after the Norman Conquest as a financial committee of the Curia Regis. By the reign o...

Feast of Fools

(Encyclopedia)Feast of Fools: see Fools, Feast of. ...

Federation of Malaysia

(Encyclopedia)Federation of Malaysia: see Malaysia. ...

Fehrbellin, battle of

(Encyclopedia)Fehrbellin, battle of fĕˌbĕlēnˈ [key], 1675. Allied with France in the third Dutch War, King Charles XI of Sweden invaded Brandenburg but was defeated near the town of Fehrbellin, 35 mi (56 km) N...

Abgar, Epistles of

(Encyclopedia)Abgar, Epistles of: see Pseudepigrapha. ...

Amboise, conspiracy of

(Encyclopedia)Amboise, conspiracy of, 1560, plot of the Huguenots (French Protestants) and the house of Bourbon to usurp the power of the Guise family, which virtually ruled France during the reign of the young Fra...

Festival of Lights

(Encyclopedia)Festival of Lights: see Hanukkah. ...