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Mimas

(Encyclopedia) MimasMimasmīˈmăs [key], in astronomy, one of the named moons, or natural satellites, of Saturn. Also known as Saturn I (or S1), Mimas is 244 mi (392 km) in diameter, orbits Saturn at a…

Christie, Dame Agatha

(Encyclopedia) Christie, Dame Agatha, 1890–1976, English detective story writer, b. Torquay, Devon, as Agatha Mary Clarissa Miller. Christie's second husband was the archaeologist Sir Max Mallowan,…

John of Damascus, Saint

(Encyclopedia) John of Damascus, Saint, or Saint John DamasceneSaint John Damascenedămˈəsēn [key], c.675–c.749, Syrian theologian, Father of the Church and Doctor of the Church. He was brought up at…

levee

(Encyclopedia) leveeleveelĕvˈē [key] [Fr.,=raised], embankment built along a river to prevent flooding by high water. Levees are the oldest and the most extensively used method of flood control. They…

Murchison, Sir Roderick Impey

(Encyclopedia) Murchison, Sir Roderick ImpeyMurchison, Sir Roderick Impeymûrˈkĭsən [key], 1792–1871, British geologist. He served in the Napoleonic Wars but after the peace turned his attention to…

mousebird

(Encyclopedia) mousebird or colycolykōˈlē [key], common name for small, slender birds, comprising six species in the single genus Colius of the family Coliidae. They resemble mice in their soft,…

nimbus, in art

(Encyclopedia) nimbusnimbusnĭmˈbəs [key], in art, the luminous disk or circle or other indication of light around the head of a sacred personage. It was used in Buddhist and other Asian art and by…

blowfly

(Encyclopedia) blowfly, name for flies of the family Calliphoridae. Blowflies are about the same size as, and resemble, the housefly; because they are usually metallic blue or green they are also…

Black Hills

(Encyclopedia) Black Hills, rugged mountains, c.6,000 sq mi (15,540 sq km), enclosed by the Belle Fourche and Cheyenne rivers, SW S.Dak. and NE Wyo., and rising c.2,500 ft (760 m) above the…

tellurium

(Encyclopedia) telluriumtelluriumtĕl&oobreve;rˈēəm [key] [Lat.,=earth], semimetallic chemical element; symbol Te; at. no. 52; at. wt. 127.60; m.p. 450℃; b.p. 990℃; sp. gr. 6.24 at 20℃; valence −2…