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robot

(Encyclopedia) robot or automatonrobotôtämˈətänˌ [key] mechanical device designed to perform the work generally done by a human being. The Czech dramatist Karel Čapek popularized the expression […

Skvorecky, Josef

(Encyclopedia) Skvorecky, Josef, Czech Josef Václav ŠkvoreckýSkvorecky, Josef,yōˈzĕf vätsˈläv shkvôrˈĕtskē [key], 1924–2012, Czech-born novelist, grad. Charles Univ., Prague (1951). Written in 1949,…

Passover

(Encyclopedia) Passover, in Judaism, one of the most important and elaborate of religious festivals. Its celebration begins on the evening of the 14th of Nisan (first month of the religious calendar…

Neurath, Otto

(Encyclopedia) Neurath, Otto, 1882–1945, Austrian philosopher, social scientist, and design theorist, b. Vienna. During the 1920s and 30s he was both a Marxist and a member of the Vienna Circle, an…

August Coup

(Encyclopedia) August Coup, attempted coup (Aug. 18–22, 1991) against Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev. On the eve of the signing ceremony for a new union treaty for the Union of Soviet Socialist…

Masolino da Panicale

(Encyclopedia) Masolino da PanicaleMasolino da Panicalemäzōlēˈnō dä pänēkäˈlā [key], 1383–c.1447, Florentine painter of the early Renaissance, whose real name was Tommaso di Cristoforo Fini. His…

Péguy, Charles

(Encyclopedia) Péguy, CharlesPéguy, Charlesshärl pāgēˈ [key], 1873–1914, French poet and writer. Of a poor, working family, he won scholarships and made a brilliant record as a student. He left the…

Cranach, Lucas

(Encyclopedia) Cranach or Kranach, LucasCranach or Kranach, Lucasboth: l&oomacr;ˈkäs kräˈnäkh [key], the Elder, 1472–1553, German painter and engraver. The son of a painter, he settled in…

Davis, Bette

(Encyclopedia) Davis, BetteDavis, Bettebĕtˈē [key], 1908–89, American film actress, b. Lowell, Mass., as Ruth Elizabeth Davis. One of the most durable stars of the American screen, she made her debut…

West, Dame Rebecca

(Encyclopedia) West, Dame Rebecca, 1892–1983, English novelist and critic, b. Ireland as Cicily Isabel Fairfield. West began her career as a journalist for feminist and suffragist publications. At…