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Geoffroy, Étienne François

(Encyclopedia) Geoffroy, Étienne FrançoisGeoffroy, Étienne Françoisātyĕnˈ fräNswäˈ zhôfrwäˈ [key], 1672–1731, French physician and chemist, also known as Geoffroy the Elder. He became a pharmacist in…

English springer spaniel

(Encyclopedia) English springer spaniel, breed of medium-sized sporting dog developed in England from the broader and very old category of “springing spaniels” that produced many of the present-day…

breakwater

(Encyclopedia) breakwater, offshore structure to protect a harbor from wave energy or deflect currents. When it also serves as a pier, it is called a quay; when covered by a roadway it is called a…

wren

(Encyclopedia) wren, small, plump perching songbird of the family Troglodytidae. There are about 60 wren species, and all except one are restricted to the New World. The plumage is usually brown or…

Buridan, Jean

(Encyclopedia) Buridan, JeanBuridan, Jeanby&oobreve;rˈĭdən, Fr. zhäN bürēdäNˈ [key], d. c.1358, French scholastic philosopher. Rector of the Univ. of Paris, he was a follower of William of Occam…

Zephaniah, book of the Bible

(Encyclopedia) ZephaniahZephaniahzĕfˌənīˈə [key], prophetic book of the Bible. The prophet, who lived in the reign (c.640–609 b.c.) of King Josiah of Judah, traces his genealogy to King Hezekiah.…

Watson, Doc

(Encyclopedia) Watson, Doc (Arthel Lane Watson), 1923–2012, American country-music singer and musician, b. Stony Fork, N.C. Blind from infancy, he learned to play the harmonica, banjo, and guitar in…

Tune, Tommy

(Encyclopedia) Tune, Tommy, 1939–, American dancer, choreographer, and director, b. Wichita Falls, Tex. An unusually lanky 6 ft 6 in., Tune began his Broadway dancing career in the chorus of several…

Ricardo, David

(Encyclopedia) Ricardo, David, 1772–1823, British economist, of Dutch-Jewish parentage. At the age of 20 he entered business as a stockbroker and was so skillful in the management of his affairs that…

Lanfranc

(Encyclopedia) LanfrancLanfranclănˈfrăngk [key], d. 1089, Italian churchman and theologian, archbishop of Canterbury (1070–89), b. Pavia. At first educated in civil law, he turned to theology and…