(Encyclopedia) Dionysius ExiguusDionysius Exiguusdīənĭshˈēəs ĕksĭgˈy&oomacr;əs [key], d. c.545, Roman monk, chronologist, and scholar, a transmitter of Greek thought to the Middle Ages. He made…
(Encyclopedia) Dares PhrygiusDares Phrygiusdârˈēz frĭjˈēəs [key], supposed author of a history of the Trojan War. Dares of Phrygia is mentioned by Homer in the Iliad as a priest of Troy. During the…
(Encyclopedia) crèchecrèchekrĕsh, krāsh [key], representation of the Infant Jesus in the manger, usually surrounded by figures of Mary, Joseph, shepherds, animals, and the Wise Men; also called…
(Encyclopedia) citterncitternsĭtˈərn [key], stringed musical instrument of the guitar family having an oval body, a flat back, and a fretted neck. Its strings, made of wire and varying in number,…
(Encyclopedia) New Year's Day, among ancient peoples the first day of the year frequently corresponded to the vernal or autumnal equinox, or to the summer or winter solstice. In the Middle Ages it…
(Encyclopedia) MaremmaMaremmamärāmˈmä [key], coastal area in Tuscany, central Italy, along the Tyrrhenian Sea and extending E to the Apennines. A flourishing region in Etruscan and early Roman times…
(Encyclopedia) WiganWiganwĭgˈən [key], metropolitan borough (1991 pop. 88,725), N England, located in the Manchester metropolitan area on the Douglas River. Wigan has a wide variety of industries,…
(Encyclopedia) Advent [Lat.,=coming], season of the Christian ecclesiastical year preceding Christmas, lasting in the West from the Sunday nearest Nov. 30 (St. Andrew's Day) until Christmas Eve. In…
(Encyclopedia) Vendôme, town (1990 pop. 18,359), Loir-et-Cher dept., N central France, in Orléanais. It is a manufacturing town with food processing, computer, and metal and electrical industries.…
