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plagues of Egypt

(Encyclopedia)plagues of Egypt, in the Bible, the plagues and other troubles brought on Egypt by God through the hands of Moses, because Pharaoh would not let the people of Israel go out of Egypt. The account, in t...

nitrogen mustard

(Encyclopedia)nitrogen mustard, any of various poisonous compounds originally developed for military use (see poison gas). Like mustard gas and lewisite, it is a vesicant (blistering agent). In the form of its crys...

Sarkis, Elias

(Encyclopedia)Sarkis, Elias, 1924–85, president of Lebanon (1976–82). He was governor (1967–76) of Lebanon's central bank and was elected president by parliament during the bitter Lebanese civil war (1975–7...

pigmentation

(Encyclopedia)pigmentation, name for the coloring matter found in certain plant and animal cells and for the color produced thereby. Pigmentation occurs in nearly all living organisms. Almost all plants synthesize ...

skin

(Encyclopedia)CE5 Cross section of skin skin, the flexible tissue (integument) enclosing the body of vertebrate animals. In humans and other mammals, the skin operates a complex organ of numerous structures (so...

Kiriath-arba

(Encyclopedia)Kiriath-arba kĭˈrēăth-ärbə [key], see Hebron, West Bank. ...

Kirjath-arba

(Encyclopedia)Kirjath-arba kûrˈjăth-ärbə [key], see Hebron, West Bank. ...

Geba

(Encyclopedia)Geba gēˈbə [key], in the Bible, town, ancient Palestine, c.5 mi (8 km) NW of Jerusalem, the modern Jaba, the West Bank. There Jonathan slaughtered the Philistines. ...

Beth-tappuah

(Encyclopedia)Beth-tappuah bĕth-tăpyo͞oˈə [key], in the Bible, town, c.4 mi W of Hebron, of which it was perhaps a colony; now called Taffuh (West Bank). ...

dialysis

(Encyclopedia)dialysis dīălˈĭsĭs [key], in chemistry, transfer of solute (dissolved solids) across a semipermeable membrane. Strictly speaking, dialysis refers only to the transfer of the solute; transfer of t...