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Janus, in Roman religion
(Encyclopedia)Janus jāˈnəs [key], in Roman religion, god of beginnings. He was one of the principal Roman gods, the custodian of the universe. The first hour of the day, the first day of the month, the first mon...occultation
(Encyclopedia)occultation ŏkˌəltāˈshən [key], in astronomy, eclipse of one celestial body by another, e.g., when the moon lies between a star and the earth. Occultations of stars by the moon are important in ...sundial
(Encyclopedia)sundial, instrument that indicates the time of day by the shadow, cast on a surface marked to show hours or fractions of hours, of an object on which the sun's rays fall. Although any object whose sha...Russian Revolution
(Encyclopedia)Russian Revolution, violent upheaval in Russia in 1917 that overthrew the czarist government. The civil war between the Bolsheviks (Reds) and the anti-Bolsheviks (Whites) ravaged Russia until 1920. ...Roundheads
(Encyclopedia)Roundheads, derisive name for the supporters of Parliament during the English civil war. The name, which originated c.1641, referred to the short haircuts worn by some of the Puritans in contrast to t...Gridley, Charles Vernon
(Encyclopedia)Gridley, Charles Vernon, 1844–98, U.S. naval officer, b. Logansport, Ind. After serving in the Civil War, he continued in naval service. He was flagship commander under Commodore Dewey at Manila in ...gloss
(Encyclopedia)gloss [Gr.,=tongue], explanatory note on a word or words of a text, usually written between the lines or in a margin of a manuscript. In copying a manuscript, a copyist sometimes incorporated a gloss ...Morley
(Encyclopedia)Morley, town (1991 pop. 44,652), Leeds metropolitan district, N England. Woolen textiles and many other products are made. Coal is mined in the area. The town was besieged by royalists in the English ...Cushing, William Barker
(Encyclopedia)Cushing, William Barker, 1842–74, Union naval hero in the Civil War, b. Delafield, Wis., educated at Annapolis. Cushing became noted for a series of daredevil exploits, particularly for his sinking ...Blair Atholl
(Encyclopedia)Blair Atholl ăthˈəl [key], parish, Perth and Kinross, central Scotland, at the confluence of the Garry and the Tilt rivers. Blair Castle, begun c.1269, is the seat of the duke of Atholl and his Ath...Browse by Subject
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