Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

355 results found

Westermarck, Edward Alexander

(Encyclopedia)Westermarck, Edward Alexander vĕsˈtərmärk, wĕsˈ– [key], 1862–1939, Finnish social philosopher and anthropologist. He was professor of sociology at the Univ. of London (1907–30) and profess...

Dies irae

(Encyclopedia)Dies irae dēˈās ēˈrā [key] [Lat.,=day of wrath], hymn of the Roman Catholic Church. A part of the Requiem Mass, it is a powerful description of the Judgment and a prayer to Jesus for mercy. Sugg...

Eustathius

(Encyclopedia)Eustathius, d. c.1194, Byzantine scholar, archbishop of Salonica (from 1175). He became renowned as master of the orators at Hagia Sophia, Constantinople, then a center of learning. He lectured on Hom...

parsley

(Encyclopedia)parsley, Mediterranean aromatic herb (Petroselinum crispum or Apium petroselinum) of the carrot family, cultivated since the days of the Romans for its foliage, used in cookery as a seasoning and garn...

White Rock

(Encyclopedia)White Rock, city (1991 pop. 16,314), SE British Columbia, Canada, on Georgia Strait and on the U.S. border. The city is a customs port and resort center with a residential area. ...

labyrinth

(Encyclopedia)CE5 labyrinth lăbˈərĭnth [key], intricate building of chambers and passages, often constructed so as to perplex and confuse a person inside. In Egypt, Amenemhet III of the XII dynasty built him...

Gounod, Charles François

(Encyclopedia)Gounod, Charles François shärl fräNswäˈ go͞onōˈ [key], 1818–93, French composer, studied at the Paris Conservatory and received the Grand Prix de Rome in 1839. His fame rests chiefly on his ...

Antigone

(Encyclopedia)Antigone ăntĭgˈənē [key], in Greek mythology, daughter of Oedipus and Jocasta. In Sophocles' Oedipus at Colonus, she and her sister Ismene follow their father into exile at Colonus. When her brot...

sandalwood

(Encyclopedia)sandalwood, name for several fragrant tropical woods, especially for Santalum album, an evergreen partially parasitic tree either native to India or introduced there centuries ago. It is used for joss...

Boston Massacre

(Encyclopedia)Boston Massacre, 1770, pre-Revolutionary incident growing out of the resentment against the British troops sent to Boston to maintain order and to enforce the Townshend Acts. The troops, constantly to...