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walrus

(Encyclopedia)walrus, marine mammal, Odobenus rosmarus, found in Arctic seas. Largest of the fin-footed mammals, or pinnipeds (see seal), the walrus is also distinguished by its long tusks and by cheek pads bearing...

exile, in politics and government

(Encyclopedia)exile, removal of a national from his or her country, or the civilized parts of it, for a long period of time or for life. Exile may be a forceful expulsion by the government or a voluntary removal by...

sanction

(Encyclopedia)sanction, in law and ethics, any inducement to individuals or groups to follow or refrain from following a particular course of conduct. All societies impose sanctions on their members in order to enc...

Las Cruces

(Encyclopedia)Las Cruces läs kro͞oˈsĭs [key], city (1990 pop. 62,126), seat of Dona Ana co., SW N.Mex., on the Rio Grande, in a farm area irrigated by the Elephant Butte system; founded 1848, inc. 1907. It is t...

Mendoza

(Encyclopedia)Mendoza, city (1991 pop. 773,559), capital of Mendoza prov., W Argentina. With a backdrop of snowcapped mountains, Mendoza is surrounded by a fertile oasis, known as the “Garden of the Andes,” irr...

Maskin, Eric Stark

(Encyclopedia)Maskin, Eric Stark, 1950–, American economist, b. New York City, Ph.D. Harvard, 1976. He was on the faculty at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1977–84) and Harvard (1985–2000) before ...

Matamoros

(Encyclopedia)Matamoros, city (1990 pop. 266,055), Tamaulipas state, NE Mexico, near the mouth of the Rio Grande, opposite Brownsville, Tex. Matamoros, linked by rail and highway with the United States, is an inter...

Karamanlis, Costas

(Encyclopedia)Karamanlis, Costas (Konstantinos Alexandrou Karamanlis) kōˈstäs kärämänlēsˈ, kōnstäntēˈnōs älĕkˈsänᵺo͞o [key], 1956–, Greek politician, b. Athens. The nephew of Constantine Karam...

Kikuyu

(Encyclopedia)Kikuyu kĭko͞oˈyo͞o [key], Bantu-speaking people, numbering about 6 million, forming the largest tribal group in Kenya. The Kikuyu live in the highlands NE of Nairobi. Before the British conquest t...

Kérékou, Mathieu

(Encyclopedia)Kérékou, Mathieu mätyöˈ kāˈkāko͞o [key], 1933–2015, Beninois military and political leader, b. French Dahomey (now Benin). Serving in the military, he participated the 1967 coup and became ...