Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Reinhardt, Django

(Encyclopedia)Reinhardt, Django (Jean Baptiste Reinhardt), 1910–53, Belgian jazz guitarist of Romani (Gypsy) descent. Reinhardt began playing the guitar professionally at 12. He was severely burned in a fire in 1...

Sánchez Hernández, Fidel

(Encyclopedia)Sánchez Hernández, Fidel ārnänˈdās [key], 1917–2003, president of El Salvador (1967–72). An army general, he served as minister of interior under President Julio Rivera. As president, he na...

proverb

(Encyclopedia)proverb, short statement of wisdom or advice that has passed into general use. More homely than aphorisms, proverbs generally refer to common experience and are often expressed in metaphor, alliterati...

Greensburg

(Encyclopedia)Greensburg. 1 City (2020 pop. 14,976), seat of Westmoreland co., SW Pa.; settled c.1770, inc. as a city 1928. Located in a coal area, the city ...

kapok

(Encyclopedia)kapok kāˈpŏk, kăpˈək [key], name for a tropical tree of the family Bombacaceae (bombax family) and for the fiber (floss) obtained from the seeds in the ripened pods. The floss has been important...

Augustine of Canterbury, Saint

(Encyclopedia)Augustine of Canterbury, Saint ôˈgəstēn, –tĭn; ôgŭsˈtĭn [key], d. c.605, Italian missionary, called the Apostle of the English, first archbishop of Canterbury (from 601). A Roman monk, he w...

Newman, Paul

(Encyclopedia)Newman, Paul, 1925–2008, American actor, b. Cleveland, Ohio. After performing in a Broadway play (1952–53) and in television dramas, Newman became a versatile film actor and a major Hollywood star...

Nottingham, Daniel Finch

(Encyclopedia)Nottingham, Daniel Finch, 2d earl of, 1647–1730, English politician, son of Heneage Finch, the 1st earl. A staunch supporter of the Church of England, he disapproved of James II's pro–Roman Cathol...

Maradona, Diego Armando

(Encyclopedia)Maradona, Diego Armando, 1960–2020, Argentinian soccer star. A strong forward with spectacular abilities, superb dribbling skills, and great personal flair, he began his career as a teenager playing...

Germanicus Caesar

(Encyclopedia)Germanicus Caesar jərmănˈĭkəs [key], 15 b.c.–a.d. 19, Roman general, son of Drusus Senior. He was adopted (a.d. 4) by his uncle Emperor Tiberius. Germanicus fought (a.d. 8) in Pannonia and Dalm...
 

Browse by Subject