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proportion

(Encyclopedia)proportion, in mathematics, the equality of two ratios. Two pairs of quantities a,b and c,d are in proportion if their ratios a/b and c/d are equal, i.e., if the equation a/b=c/d is true. For example,...

spoils system

(Encyclopedia)spoils system, in U.S. history, the practice of giving appointive offices to loyal members of the party in power. The name supposedly derived from a speech by Senator William Learned Marcy in which he...

march, in music

(Encyclopedia)march, in music, composition intended to accompany marching. The only constant characteristics of a march are duple meter and a fairly simple rhythmic design. In mood, marches range from the moving de...

Galanos, James

(Encyclopedia)Galanos, James gəlänˈōs [key], 1925–2016, American fashion designer, b. Philadelphia, settled in California 1945. His luxurious, expensive clothing, created with the most exacting workmanship, w...

Eminescu, Mihail

(Encyclopedia)Eminescu, Mihail mēhäēlˈ yĕmēnĕˈsko͝o [key], 1850–89, Romanian poet. Eminescu is considered the foremost Romanian poet of his century. His poems, lyrical, passionate, and revolutionary, wer...

Ramuz, Charles Ferdinand

(Encyclopedia)Ramuz, Charles Ferdinand shärl fĕrdēnäNˈ rämüzˈ [key], 1878–1947, Swiss novelist. His works deal with the simple people of his native canton of Vaud. Among his major novels are Le Règne de ...

Wisconsin v. Yoder

(Encyclopedia)Wisconsin v. Yoder, case decided in 1972 by the U.S. Supreme Court, which held that Amish children could be exempted from compulsory school-attendance beyond the 8th grade; the Amish (see under Mennon...

Wright, Russel

(Encyclopedia)Wright, Russel, 1905–76, American industrial designer, b. Lebanon, Ohio. Wright was notable for introducing modern functional forms, simplified shapes, and cheerful colors in furniture, appliances, ...

computer terminal

(Encyclopedia)computer terminal, a device that enables a computer to receive or deliver data. Computer terminals vary greatly depending on the format of the data they handle. For example, a simple early terminal co...

Pound, Roscoe

(Encyclopedia)Pound, Roscoe, 1870–1964, American jurist, b. Lincoln, Nebr. He studied (1889–90) at Harvard law school, but never received a law degree. Pound was a prominent botanist as well as a jurist, and sp...