Search

Search results

Displaying 121 - 130

Jayhawkers

(Encyclopedia) Jayhawkers, term applied to free-state guerrilla fighters opposed to the proslavery “border ruffians” during the struggle over Kansas in the years prior to the Civil War. Later, during…

Pandarus

(Encyclopedia) PandarusPandaruspănˈdərəs [key], in Greek legend, a Trojan warrior. In the Trojan War (as recounted in Homer's Iliad) he broke the truce by wounding Menelaus and soon after was killed…

Olathe

(Encyclopedia) OlatheOlatheōlāˈthē [key], city (1990 pop. 63,352), seat of Johnson co., NE Kans., suburb of Kansas City; inc. 1858. In an area of livestock farms, Olathe grew markedly in the late…

Spa

(Encyclopedia) Spa, commune (1991 pop. 10,140), Liège prov., E Belgium, in the Ardennes. Its therapeutic mineral springs and baths, frequented since the 16th cent., made it an internationally…

Bidpai

(Encyclopedia) Bidpai or BidpayBidpayboth: bĭdˈpī [key], supposed name of the author of the fables of the Panchatantra. The name first appears in an Arabic version of these fables—hence they are…

Mabinogion

(Encyclopedia) MabinogionMabinogionmăbĭnōˈgēən [key], title given to a collection of medieval Welsh stories. Scholars differ as to the meaning of the word mabinogion: some think it to be the plural…

Nephilim

(Encyclopedia) NephilimNephilimnēfĭlˈĭm [key], in the Bible, Hebrew word of no known meaning, denoting peoples of gigantic stature with superhuman strength. The term is translated as “giants” in the…

detonator

(Encyclopedia) detonatordetonatordĕˈtənāˌtər [key], type of explosive that reacts with great rapidity and is used to set off other, more inert explosives. Fulminate of mercury mixed with potassium…

Holzer, Jenny

(Encyclopedia) Holzer, Jenny, 1950–, American artist, b. Gallipolis, Ohio. She links text and image in works of art composed of short aphorisms or longer declarations. Influenced by Dada, conceptual…

pun

(Encyclopedia) pun, use of words, usually humorous, based on (a) the several meanings of one word, (b) a similarity of meaning between words that are pronounced the same, or (c) the difference in…