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Samosata

(Encyclopedia)Samosata səmŏsˈətə [key], ancient city of N Syria, on the Euphrates. It was founded c.150 b.c. as the capital of the Commagene kingdom. Taken by the Romans in a.d. 72, it was of some importance i...

Bartlett, John

(Encyclopedia)Bartlett, John, 1820–1905, American compiler and publisher, b. Plymouth, Mass. While he worked in his university book store in Cambridge, he compiled the invaluable Familiar Quotations (1855), which...

proconsul, in ancient Rome

(Encyclopedia)proconsul, in ancient Rome, governor of a province. He was in sole charge of the army, of justice, and of administration in his province and could not be prosecuted for maladministration until his off...

National Guard

(Encyclopedia)National Guard, U.S. militia. The militia is authorized by the Constitution of the United States, which also defines the militia's functions and the federal and state role. Article 1, Section 8 provid...

marathon race

(Encyclopedia)marathon race, long-distance foot race deriving its name from Marathon, Greece. According to legend, in 490 b.c., Pheidippides, a runner from Marathon, carried news of victory over the Persians to Ath...

Buchwald, Art

(Encyclopedia)Buchwald, Art bŭkˈwôld, bo͝okˈ– [key], 1925–2006, American humorist, b. Mt. Vernon, N.Y. He began (1949) a syndicated entertainment column for the New York Herald Tribune while living in Pari...

Walloons

(Encyclopedia)Walloons wŏlo͞onzˈ [key], group of people living in S Belgium who traditionally spoke a dialect of French called Walloon, but who today for the most part speak standard French. The Walloons, number...

Śivaji

(Encyclopedia)Śivaji or Shivaji shĭväˈjē [key], 1627–80, Indian ruler, leader of the Marathas. The son of a Maratha chieftain, he was imbued from early childhood with hatred of the Mughal empire, which contr...

Alaska Range

(Encyclopedia)Alaska Range, S central Alaska, rising to the highest mountain in North America, Denali (Mt. McKinley; 20,310 ft/6,190 m). The range divides S central Alaska from the great plateau of the interior. Mt...

Everyman

(Encyclopedia)Everyman, late-15th-century English morality play. It is the counterpart of the Dutch play Elckerlijk; which of these anonymous plays is the original has been the subject of controversy. When Everyman...