Of
Meanings and phrases
n.
- English statesman; member of the Conservative Party (1867-1947); Baldwin; Stanley Baldwin
n.
- English statesman; member of the Conservative Party (1848-1930); Balfour; Arthur James Balfour
n.
- English general during World War II; won victories over Rommel in North Africa and led British ground forces in the invasion of Normandy (1887-1976); Montgomery; Bernard Law Montgomery; Sir Bernard Law Montgomery
n.
- an academy that gives annual awards for achievements in motion picture production and performance
n.
- an academy that gives annual awards for outstanding achievements in television
n.
- a New Testament book describing the development of the early church from Christ's Ascension to Paul's sojourn at Rome; Acts
Age of Fishes
- from 405 million to 345 million years ago; preponderance of fishes and appearance of amphibians and ammonites; Devonian; Devonian period
Age of Mammals
- approximately the last 63 million years; Cenozoic; Cenozoic era
Age of Man
- last 2 million years; Quaternary; Quaternary period
Age of Reason
- a movement in Europe from about 1650 until 1800 that advocated the use of reason and individualism instead of tradition and established doctrine; Enlightenment
Age of Reptiles
- from 230 million to 63 million years ago; Mesozoic; Mesozoic era
American Federation of Labor
- a federation of North American labor unions that merged with the Congress of Industrial Organizations in 1955; AFL
n.
- the largest federation of North American labor unions; formed in 1955; AFL-CIO
American War of Independence
- the revolution of the American Colonies against Great Britain; 1775-1783; American Revolution; American Revolutionary War; War of American Independence
Apostle of Germany
- (Roman Catholic Church) Anglo-Saxon missionary who was sent to Frisia and Germany to spread the Christian faith; was martyred in Frisia (680-754); Boniface; Saint Boniface; St. Boniface; Winfred; Wynfrith
n.
- (New Testament) a Christian missionary to the Gentiles; author of several Epistles in the New Testament; even though Paul was not present at the Last Supper he is considered an Apostle; Paul; Saint Paul; St. Paul; Apostle Paul; Paul the Apostle; Saul; Saul of Tarsus
Arab Republic of Egypt
- a republic in northeastern Africa known as the United Arab Republic until 1971; site of an ancient civilization that flourished from 2600 to 30 BC; Egypt; United Arab Republic
Aristarchus of Samos
- an ancient Greek astronomer who was one of the first to propose a heliocentric theory of the universe (circa 270 BC)
n.
- (Judaism) sacred chest where the ancient Hebrews kept the two tablets containing the Ten Commandments; Ark
n.
- a militant Marxist-Leninist terrorist organization formed in 1975 to force Turkey to acknowledge killing more than a million Armenians and forcibly removing them from border areas in 1915; wants Turkey to pay reparations and cede territory to Armenia; ASALA; Orly Group; 3rd October Organization
n.
- a terrorist organization that seeks to overthrow the government dominated by Tutsi and to institute Hutu control again; ALIR; Former Armed Forces; FAR; Interahamwe
Army of Muhammad
- a terrorist organization founded in 2000; a militant Islamic group active in Kashmir and closely aligned with al-Rashid Trust; seeks to secure release of imprisoned fellow militants by kidnappings; Jaish-i-Mohammed; Jaish-e-Muhammad; JEM
n.
- a brutal terrorist group active in Kashmir; fights against India with the goal of restoring Islamic rule of India; Lashkar-e-Taiba; Lashkar-e-Toiba; Lashkar-e-Tayyiba; LET; Army of the Righteous
n.
- a brutal terrorist group active in Kashmir; fights against India with the goal of restoring Islamic rule of India; Lashkar-e-Taiba; Lashkar-e-Toiba; Lashkar-e-Tayyiba; LET; Army of the Pure
Arnold of Brescia
- Italian theologian who censured the worldly possessions of monks and the temporal power of bishops and was condemned for dogmatic errors by the Second Lateran Council (early 12th century)
n.
- (chemistry) theory that describes aqueous solutions in terms of acids (which dissociate to give hydrogen ions) and bases (which dissociate to give hydroxyl ions); the product of an acid and a base is a salt and water; theory of dissociation; theory of electrolytic dissociation
Articles of Confederation
- a written agreement ratified in 1781 by the thirteen original states; it provided a legal symbol of their union by giving the central government no coercive power over the states or their citizens
Ascension of Christ
- (New Testament) the rising of the body of Jesus into heaven on the 40th day after his Resurrection; Ascension
n.
- (Christianity) celebration of the Ascension of Christ into heaven; observed on the 40th day after Easter; Ascension; Ascension Day
Assemblies of God
- a charismatic Protestant denomination in the United States
n.
- an association of people to promote the welfare of senior citizens; AARP
n.
- a Turkish terrorist group of fundamentalist Muslims with ties to al-Qaeda that operates in Germany; seeks the violent overthrow of the Turkish government and the establishment of an Islamic nation modeled on Iran; Kaplan Group; Caliphate State
Association of Orangemen
- a Protestant political organization in Northern Ireland; Orange Order
Association of Southeast Asian Nations
- an association of nations dedicated to economic and political cooperation in southeastern Asia and who joined with the United States to fight against global terrorism; ASEAN
Assumption of Mary
- celebration in the Roman Catholic Church of the Virgin Mary's being taken up into heaven when her earthly life ended; corresponds to the Dormition in the Eastern Orthodox Church; Assumption; August 15
n.
- the position of the head of the Justice Department and the chief law enforcement officer of the United States; Attorney General
Augustine of Hippo
- (Roman Catholic Church) one of the great Fathers of the early Christian church; after a dramatic conversion to Christianity he became bishop of Hippo Regius in North Africa; St. Augustine emphasized man's need for grace (354-430); Augustine; Saint Augustine; St. Augustine
Bachelor of Arts
- a bachelor's degree in arts and sciences; BA; Artium Baccalaurens; AB
Bachelor of Divinity
- a bachelor's degree in religion; BD
Bachelor of Laws
- a three-year law degree; LLB
Bachelor of Literature
- a bachelor's degree in literature; BLitt
Bachelor of Medicine
- (a British degree) a bachelor's degree in medicine; MB
Bachelor of Music
- a bachelor's degree in music; BMus
Bachelor of Naval Science
- a bachelor's degree in naval science; BNS
Bachelor of Science
- a bachelor's degree in science; BS; SB
Bachelor of Theology
- a bachelor's degree in theology; ThB
Band of Partisans
- an extremist Palestinian Sunni group active in Lebanon in the early 1990s that advocates Salafism; responsible for murders and bombings; seeks to overthrow the Lebanese government and control Palestinian refugee camps; funded by al-Qaeda; Asbat al-Ansar
Bank of England
- the central bank of England and Wales
Bank of Japan
- the central bank of Japan
Bard of Avon
- English poet and dramatist considered one of the greatest English writers (1564-1616); Shakespeare; William Shakespeare; Shakspere; William Shakspere
Baron Clive of Plassey
- British general and statesman whose victory at Plassey in 1757 strengthened British control of India (1725-1774); Clive; Robert Clive; Baron Clive
Baron Lloyd Webber of Sydmonton
- English composer of many successful musicals (some in collaboration with Sir Tim Rice) (born in 1948); Lloyd Webber; Andrew Lloyd Webber
Baron Olivier of Birghton
- English actor best know for his Shakespearean roles (1907-1989); Olivier; Laurence Olivier; Sir Laurence Kerr Olivier
Baron Snow of Leicester
- English writer of novels about moral dilemmas in academe (1905-1980); Snow; C. P. Snow; Charles Percy Snow
Baroness Jackson of Lodsworth
- English economist and conservationist (1914-1981); Ward; Barbara Ward
Baroness Thatcher of Kesteven
- British stateswoman; first woman to serve as Prime Minister (born in 1925); Thatcher; Margaret Thatcher; Margaret Hilda Thatcher; Iron Lady
Basil of Caesarea
- (Roman Catholic Church) the bishop of Caesarea who defended the Roman Catholic Church against the heresies of the 4th century; a saint and Doctor of the Church (329-379); Basil; St. Basil; Basil the Great; St. Basil the Great
Battle of Britain
- the prolonged bombardment of British cities by the German Luftwaffe during World War II and the aerial combat that accompanied it
Battle of Bull Run
- either of two battles during the American Civil War (1861 and 1862); Confederate forces defeated the Federal army in both battles; Bull Run
Battle of El Alamein
- a pitched battle in World War II (1942) resulting in a decisive Allied victory by British troops under Montgomery over German troops under Rommel; El Alamein; Al Alamayn
Battle of Flodden Field
- a battle in 1513; the English defeated the invading Scots and James IV was killed; Flodden
Battle of Fontenoy
- a battle in 1745 in which the French army under Marshal Saxe defeated the English army and their allies under the duke of Cumberland; Fontenoy
Battle of Fredericksburg
- an important battle in the American Civil War (1862); the Union Army under A. E. Burnside was defeated by the Confederate Army under Robert E. Lee; Fredericksburg
Battle of Gettysburg
- a battle of the American Civil War (1863); the defeat of Robert E. Lee's invading Confederate Army was a major victory for the Union; Gettysburg
Battle of Granicus River
- the battle in which Alexander won his first major victory against the Persians (334 BC); Granicus
Battle of Guadalcanal
- a battle in World War II in the Pacific (1942-1943); the island was occupied by the Japanese and later recaptured by American forces; Guadalcanal
Battle of Jena
- the battle in 1806 in which Napoleon decisively defeated the Prussians; Jena
Battle of Kerbala
- a battle in 680 in which the grandson of Mohammed and his followers were killed
Battle of Lake Trasimenus
- a battle in 217 BC in which Hannibal ambushed a Roman army led by Flaminius; Lake Trasimenus
Battle of Lepanto
- Turkish sea power was destroyed in 1571 by a league of Christian nations organized by the Pope; Lepanto
Battle of Little Bighorn
- a battle in Montana near the Little Bighorn River between United States cavalry under Custer and several groups of Native Americans (1876); Custer was pursuing Sioux led by Sitting Bull; Custer underestimated the size of the Sioux forces (which were supported by Cheyenne warriors) and was killed along with all his command; Little Bighorn; Battle of the Little Bighorn; Custer's Last Stand
Battle of Magenta
- a battle in 1859 in which the French and Sardinian forces under Napoleon III defeated the Austrians under Francis Joseph I; Magenta
Battle of Maldon
- a battle in which the Danes defeated the Saxons in 991; celebrated in an old English poem; Maldon
Battle of Midway
- naval battle of World War II (June 1942); American planes based on land and on carriers decisively defeated a Japanese fleet on its way to invade the Midway Islands; Midway
Battle of Monmouth
- a pitched battle in New Jersey during the American Revolution (1778) that ended with the withdrawal of British forces; Monmouth Court House; Battle of Monmouth Court House
Battle of Monmouth Court House
- a pitched battle in New Jersey during the American Revolution (1778) that ended with the withdrawal of British forces; Monmouth Court House; Battle of Monmouth
Battle of Naseby
- a battle in 1645 that settled the outcome of the first English Civil War as the Parliamentarians won a major victory over the Royalists; Naseby
Battle of Puebla
- a battle in which Mexican forces defeated the French in 1862
Battle of Pydna
- a major victory by the Romans over the Macedonians in 168 BC; resulted in the downfall of the ancient Macedonian kingdom; Pydna
Battle of Ravenna
- a battle between the French and an alliance of Spaniards and Swiss and Venetians in 1512; Ravenna
Battle of Rocroi
- a battle in the Thirty Years' War (1643); the French defeated the Spanish invaders; Rocroi
Battle of Wake
- in December 1941 the island was captured by the Japanese after a gallant last-ditch stand by a few hundred United States marines; Battle of Wake Island
Battle of Wake Island
- in December 1941 the island was captured by the Japanese after a gallant last-ditch stand by a few hundred United States marines; Battle of Wake
Battle of Waterloo
- the battle on 18 June 1815 in which Prussian and British forces under Blucher and the Duke of Wellington routed the French forces under Napoleon; Waterloo
n.
- a battle during World War II; in December 1944 von Rundstedt launched a powerful counteroffensive in the forest at Ardennes and caught the Allies by surprise; Battle of the Bulge; Ardennes counteroffensive
n.
- a battle during World War II; in December 1944 von Rundstedt launched a powerful counteroffensive in the forest at Ardennes and caught the Allies by surprise; Battle of the Ardennes Bulge; Ardennes counteroffensive
n.
- a battle in Montana near the Little Bighorn River between United States cavalry under Custer and several groups of Native Americans (1876); Custer was pursuing Sioux led by Sitting Bull; Custer underestimated the size of the Sioux forces (which were supported by Cheyenne warriors) and was killed along with all his command; Little Bighorn; Battle of Little Bighorn; Custer's Last Stand
n.
- a World War I battle in northwestern France where the Allies defeated the Germans in 1918; Belleau Wood; Chateau-Thierry; Marne River
n.
- battle of World War II (1944); Somme; Somme River
- battle in World War I (1916); Somme; Somme River
n.
- in the English Channel a small fleet of British ships successfully defeated the large armada sent from Spain by Philip II to invade England
Bay of Bengal
- an arm of the Indian Ocean to the east of India
Bay of Biscay
- an arm of the Atlantic Ocean in western Europe; bordered by the west coast of France and the north coast of Spain
Bay of Campeche
- a part of the Gulf of Mexico to the west of Yucatan; Gulf of Campeche; Golfo de Campeche
Bay of Fundy
- a bay of the North Atlantic between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia; noted for rapid tides as great as 70 feet
Bay of Naples
- an arm of the Tyrrhenian Sea at Naples
Bay of Ob
- an inlet of the Kara Sea in western Siberia; Gulf of Ob
n.
- a small gang of terrorist thugs claiming to seek a separate Islamic state for the Muslim minority in the Philippines; uses bombing and assassination and extortion and kidnapping; Abu Sayyaf
Bight of Benin
- a broad indentation of the Gulf of Guinea in western Africa
Bill of Rights
- a statement of fundamental rights and privileges (especially the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution)
Bishop of Rome
- the head of the Roman Catholic Church; pope; Catholic Pope; Roman Catholic Pope; pontiff; Holy Father; Vicar of Christ
Black Hole of Calcutta
- a dungeon (20 feet square) in a fort in Calcutta where as many as 146 English prisoners were held overnight by Siraj-ud-daula; the next morning only 23 were still alive
n.
- a unit of energy equal to the work done by a power of 1000 watts operating for one hour; kilowatt hour; kW-hr; B.T.U.
Book of Amos
- an Old Testament book telling Amos's prophecies; Amos
Book of Baruch
- an Apocryphal book ascribed to Baruch; Baruch
Book of Common Prayer
- the Anglican service book of the Church of England; has had several revisions since the Reformation and is widely admired for the dignity and beauty of its language
Book of Daniel
- an Old Testament book that tells of the apocalyptic visions and the experiences of Daniel in the court of Nebuchadnezzar; Daniel; Book of the Prophet Daniel
Book of Deuteronomy
- the fifth book of the Old Testament; contains a second statement of Mosaic law; Deuteronomy
Book of Ecclesiastes
- an Old Testament book consisting of reflections on the vanity of human life; is traditionally attributed to Solomon but probably was written about 250 BC; Ecclesiastes
Book of Esther
- an Old Testament book telling of a beautiful Jewess who became queen of Persia and saved her people from massacre; Esther
Book of Exodus
- the second book of the Old Testament: tells of the departure of the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt led by Moses; God gave them the Ten Commandments and the rest of Mosaic law on Mount Sinai during the Exodus; Exodus
Book of Ezekiel
- an Old Testament book containing Ezekiel's prophecies of the downfall of Jerusalem and Judah and their subsequent restoration; Ezekiel; Ezechiel
Book of Ezra
- an Old Testament book telling of a rabbi's efforts in the 5th century BC to reconstitute Jewish law and worship in Jerusalem after the Babylonian Captivity; Ezra
Book of Genesis
- the first book of the Old Testament: tells of Creation; Adam and Eve; the Fall of Man; Cain and Abel; Noah and the flood; God's covenant with Abraham; Abraham and Isaac; Jacob and Esau; Joseph and his brothers; Genesis
Book of Habakkuk
- an Old Testament book telling Habakkuk's prophecies; Habakkuk; Habacuc
Book of Haggai
- an Old Testament book telling the prophecies of Haggai which are concerned mainly with rebuilding the temples after the Babylonian Captivity; Haggai; Aggeus
Book of Hosea
- an Old Testament book telling Hosea's prophecies; Hosea
Book of Isaiah
- an Old Testament book consisting of Isaiah's prophecies; Isaiah
Book of Jeremiah
- a book in the Old Testament containing the oracles of the prophet Jeremiah; Jeremiah
Book of Job
- a book in the Old Testament containing Job's pleas to God about his afflictions and God's reply; Job
Book of Joel
- an Old Testament book telling Joel's prophecies; Joel
Book of Jonah
- a book in the Old Testament that tells the story of Jonah and the whale; Jonah
Book of Joshua
- a book in the Old Testament describing how Joshua led the Israelites into Canaan (the Promised Land) after the death of Moses; Joshua; Josue
Book of Judges
- a book of the Old Testament that tells the history of Israel under the leaders known as judges; Judges
Book of Judith
- an Apocryphal book telling how Judith saved her people; Judith
Book of Lamentations
- an Old Testament book lamenting the desolation of Judah after the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC; traditionally attributed to the prophet Jeremiah; Lamentations
Book of Leviticus
- the third book of the Old Testament; contains Levitical law and ritual precedents; Leviticus
Book of Malachi
- an Old Testament book containing the prophecies of Malachi; Malachi; Malachias
Book of Micah
- an Old Testament book telling the prophecies of Micah foretelling the destruction of Jerusalem; Micah; Micheas
Book of Mormon
- a sacred text revealed to Joseph Smith in 1830 by an ancient prophet Mormon; supposedly a record of ancient peoples of America translated by Joseph Smith
Book of Nahum
- an Old Testament book telling Nahum's prophecy of the fall of Nineveh; Nahum
Book of Nehemiah
- an Old Testament book telling how a Jewish official at the court of Artaxerxes I in 444 BC became a leader in rebuilding Jerusalem after the Babylonian Captivity; Nehemiah
Book of Numbers
- the fourth book of the Old Testament; contains a record of the number of Israelites who followed Moses out of Egypt; Numbers
Book of Obadiah
- an Old Testament book telling Obadiah's prophecies; the shortest book in the Christian Bible; Obadiah; Abdias
Book of Proverbs
- an Old Testament book consisting of proverbs from various Israeli sages (including Solomon); Proverbs
Book of Psalms
- an Old Testament book consisting of a collection of 150 Psalms; Psalms
- a collection of Psalms for liturgical use; Psalter
Book of Revelation
- the last book of the New Testament; contains visionary descriptions of heaven and of conflicts between good and evil and of the end of the world; attributed to Saint John the Apostle; Revelation; Revelation of Saint John the Divine; Apocalypse
Book of Ruth
- a book of the Old Testament that tells the story of Ruth who was not an Israelite but who married an Israelite and who stayed with her mother-in-law Naomi after her husband died; Ruth
Book of Susanna
- an Apocryphal book consisting of text added to the Book of Daniel; Susanna
Book of Tobit
- an Apocryphal book that was a popular novel for several centuries; Tobit
Book of Zachariah
- an Old Testament book telling the prophecies of Zechariah which are concerned mainly with the renewal of Israel after the Babylonian Captivity; Zechariah; Zacharias
Book of Zephaniah
- an Old Testament book telling the prophecies of Zephaniah which are concerned mainly with the approaching judgment by God upon the sinners of Judah; Zephaniah; Sophonias
n.
- an Old Testament book that tells of the apocalyptic visions and the experiences of Daniel in the court of Nebuchadnezzar; Daniel; Book of Daniel
n.
- United States lawyer and politician who advocated free silver and prosecuted John Scopes (1925) for teaching evolution in a Tennessee high school (1860-1925); Bryan; William Jennings Bryan; Great Commoner
Boy Scouts of America
- a corporation that operates through a national council that charters local councils all over the United States; the purpose is character building and citizenship training
n.
- a method that prepares a mother for natural childbirth by providing education and exercises and nutrition and techniques of breathing and relaxation (with the assistance of the father); Bradley method
British House of Commons
- the lower house of the British parliament; House of Commons
British House of Lords
- the upper house of the British parliament; House of Lords
Bruno of Toul
- German pope from 1049 to 1054 whose papacy was the beginning of papal reforms in the 11th century (1002-1054); Leo IX; Bruno
n.
- the law enforcement and tax collection agency of the Treasury Department that enforces federal laws concerning alcohol and tobacco products and firearms and explosives and arson; ATF
Bureau of Customs
- the agency of the Treasury Department that enforces import tariffs; Customs Bureau; Customs Service; USCB
Bureau of Diplomatic Security
- the bureau in the State Department that is responsible for the security of diplomats and embassies overseas; DS
n.
- an agency that is the primary source in the State Department for interpretive analyses of global developments and focal point for policy issues and activities of the Intelligence Community; INR
Bureau of Justice Assistance
- the bureau in the Department of Justice that assists local criminal justice systems to reduce or prevent crime and violence and drug abuse; BJA
Bureau of Justice Statistics
- the agency in the Department of Justice that is the primary source of criminal justice statistics for federal and local policy makers; BJS
n.
- the bureau of the Commerce Department responsible for taking the census; provides demographic information and analyses about the population of the United States; Census Bureau
Canticle of Canticles
- an Old Testament book consisting of a collection of love poems traditionally attributed to Solomon but actually written much later; Song of Songs; Song of Solomon; Canticles
Canticle of Simeon
- the prayer of Simeon (Luke 2:29-32); Nunc dimittis
Cape of Good Hope
- a point of land in southwestern South Africa (south of Cape Town)
- a province of western South Africa
Cape of Good Hope Province
- a former province of southern South Africa that was settled by the Dutch in 1652 and ceded to Great Britain in 1814; in 1994 it was split into three new provinces of South Africa; Cape Province; Cape Colony
Catherine of Aragon
- first wife of Henry VIII; Henry VIII's divorce from her was the initial step of the Reformation in England (1485-1536); Catherine
Church of Christ Scientist
- Protestant denomination founded by Mary Baker Eddy in 1866; Christian Science
Church of England
- the national church of England (and all other churches in other countries that share its beliefs); has its see in Canterbury and the sovereign as its temporal head; Anglican Church; Anglican Communion
Church of Ireland
- autonomous branch of the Church of England in Ireland
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
- church founded by Joseph Smith in 1830 with headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah; Mormon Church; Mormons
Church of Rome
- the Christian Church based in the Vatican and presided over by a pope and an episcopal hierarchy; Roman Catholic; Western Church; Roman Catholic Church; Roman Church
Church of Scientology
- a new religion founded by L. Ron Hubbard in 1955 and characterized by a belief in the power of a person's spirit to clear itself of past painful experiences through self-knowledge and spiritual fulfillment; Scientology
n.
- a Baptist denomination founded in 1708 by Americans of German descent; opposed to military service and taking legal oaths; practiced trine immersion; Dunkers; Dippers
City of Bridges
- a city in northwestern Belgium that is connected by canal to the North Sea; in the 13th century it was a leading member of the Hanseatic League; the old city (known as the City of Bridges) is a popular tourist attraction; Bruges
City of Brotherly Love
- the largest city in Pennsylvania; located in the southeastern part of the state on the Delaware river; site of Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed; site of the University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia
City of God
- phrases used to refer to Heaven; Celestial City; Heavenly City; Holy City
City of Light
- the capital and largest city of France; and international center of culture and commerce; Paris; French capital; capital of France
City of London
- the part of London situated within the ancient boundaries; the commercial and financial center of London; the City
City of Westminster
- a borough of Greater London on the Thames; contains Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey; Westminster
n.
- a city in southern California; motion picture capital of the world; most populous city of California and second largest in the United States; Los Angeles
Co-operative Republic of Guyana
- a republic in northeastern South America; formerly part of the British Empire, but it achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1966; Guyana; British Guiana
College of Cardinals
- (Roman Catholic Church) the body of cardinals who advise the Pope and elect new Popes; Sacred College
Colossus of Rhodes
- a huge bronze statue of the sun god Helios that was built around 285 BC and that stood beside the harbor entrance on the island of Rhodes for about 50 years before it was toppled by an earthquake
n.
- the commission of the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations that is concerned with the status of women in different societies
Commonwealth of Australia
- a nation occupying the whole of the Australian continent; Aboriginal tribes are thought to have migrated from southeastern Asia 20,000 years ago; first Europeans were British convicts sent there as a penal colony; Australia
Commonwealth of Dominica
- a country on the island of Dominica; Dominica
Commonwealth of Independent States
- an alliance made up of states that had been Soviet Socialist Republics in the Soviet Union prior to its dissolution in Dec 1991; CIS
Commonwealth of Nations
- an association of nations consisting of the United Kingdom and several former British colonies that are now sovereign states but still pay allegiance to the British Crown; British Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
- a self-governing commonwealth associated with the United States occupying the island of Puerto Rico; Puerto Rico; Porto Rico; PR
n.
- island country in the Atlantic to the east of Florida and Cuba; a popular winter resort; Bahamas; Bahama Islands
Communist Party of Kampuchea
- a communist organization formed in Cambodia in 1970; became a terrorist organization in 1975 when it captured Phnom Penh and created a government that killed an estimated three million people; was defeated by Vietnamese troops but remained active until 1999; Khmer Rouge; KR; Party of Democratic Kampuchea
n.
- a United States federal official who regulates the national banks
- the agency of the Treasury Department responsible for controlling the currency
Confederate States of America
- the southern states that seceded from the United States in 1861; Confederacy; Confederate States; South; Dixie; Dixieland
n.
- an inquisition set up in Italy in 1542 to curb the number of Protestants; Roman Inquisition
Congress of Industrial Organizations
- a federation of North American industrial unions that merged with the American Federation of Labor in 1955; CIO
Congress of Racial Equality
- an organization founded by James Leonard Farmer in 1942 to work for racial equality; CORE
Congressional Medal of Honor
- the highest U.S. military decoration awarded for bravery and valor in action `above and beyond the call of duty'; Medal of Honor
n.
- the constitution written at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787 and subsequently ratified by the original thirteen states; United States Constitution; U.S. Constitution; US Constitution; Constitution
n.
- university founded in 1859 by Peter Cooper to offer free courses in the arts and sciences; Cooper Union
Council of Basel-Ferrara-Florence
- the council in 1431-1439 that concentrated on the elimination of heresies and on reforms within the Roman Catholic Church
Council of Chalcedon
- the fourth ecumenical council in 451 which defined the two natures (human and divine) of Christ; Chalcedon
Council of Constance
- the council in 1414-1418 that succeeded in ending the Great Schism in the Roman Catholic Church; Constance
Council of Economic Advisors
- an executive agency responsible for providing economic advice to the President
Council of Ephesus
- the third ecumenical council in 431 which declared Mary as mother of God and condemned Pelagius; Ephesus
Council of Trent
- a council of the Roman Catholic Church convened in Trento in three sessions between 1545 and 1563 to examine and condemn the teachings of Martin Luther and other Protestant reformers; redefined the Roman Catholic doctrine and abolished various ecclesiastical abuses and strengthened the papacy
Council of Vienne
- the council in 1311-1313 that dealt with alleged crimes of the Knights Templar, planned a new crusade, and took on the reformation of the clergy; Vienne
Court of Saint James 's
- the British royal court
Criminal Intelligence Services of Canada
- an agency of the Canadian government that unifies the intelligence units of Canadian law enforcement agencies; CISC
n.
- (chemistry and physics) law stating that the pressure exerted by a mixture of gases equals the sum of the partial pressures of the gases in the mixture; the pressure of a gas in a mixture equals the pressure it would exert if it occupied the same volume alone at the same temperature; Dalton's law; law of partial pressures
Day of Atonement
- (Judaism) a solemn and major fast day on the Jewish calendar; 10th of Tishri; its observance is one of the requirements of the Mosaic law; Yom Kippur
Day of Judgement
- (New Testament) day at the end of time following Armageddon when God will decree the fates of all individual humans according to the good and evil of their earthly lives; Judgment Day; Judgement Day; Day of Judgment; Doomsday; Last Judgment; Last Judgement; Last Day; eschaton; day of reckoning; doomsday; crack of doom; end of the world
Day of Judgment
- (New Testament) day at the end of time following Armageddon when God will decree the fates of all individual humans according to the good and evil of their earthly lives; Judgment Day; Judgement Day; Day of Judgement; Doomsday; Last Judgment; Last Judgement; Last Day; eschaton; day of reckoning; doomsday; crack of doom; end of the world
Declaration of Independence
- the document recording the proclamation of the second Continental Congress (4 July 1776) asserting the independence of the Colonies from Great Britain
n.
- a title that Leo X bestowed on Henry VIII and later withdrew; parliament restored the title and it has been used by English sovereigns ever since
n.
- a Marxist-Leninist group that believes Palestinian goals can only be achieved by revolutionary change; DFLP; Popular Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine; PDFLP
Democratic People 's Republic of Korea
- a communist country in the northern half of the Korean Peninsula; established in 1948; North Korea; D.P.R.K.; DPRK
n.
- island nation in the South Atlantic off the west coast of Africa; achieved independence from Portugal in 1975; has enormous offshore oil reserves; Sao Tome and Principe; Sao Tome e Principe; Sao Thome e Principe; St. Thomas and Principe
n.
- a republic in central Africa; achieved independence from Belgium in 1960; Congo; Zaire; Belgian Congo
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
- a republic on the island of Ceylon; became independent of the United Kingdom in 1948; Sri Lanka; Ceylon
n.
- a republic in northwestern Africa on the Mediterranean Sea with a population that is predominantly Sunni Muslim; colonized by France in the 19th century but gained autonomy in the early 1960s; Algeria; Algerie
Department of Agriculture
- the federal department that administers programs that provide services to farmers (including research and soil conservation and efforts to stabilize the farming economy); created in 1862; Agriculture Department; Agriculture; USDA
Department of Commerce
- the United States federal department that promotes and administers domestic and foreign trade (including management of the census and the patent office); created in 1913; Commerce Department; Commerce; DoC
n.
- a former executive department of the United States government; created in 1903 and split into two departments in 1913
Department of Defense
- the federal department responsible for safeguarding national security of the United States; created in 1947; Defense Department; United States Department of Defense; Defense; DoD
Department of Defense Laboratory System
- a defense laboratory that provides essential services in fundamental science for national security and environmental protection and provides technologies that contribute to industrial competitiveness; LABLINK
Department of Education
- the United States federal department that administers all federal programs dealing with education (including federal aid to educational institutions and students); created 1979; Education Department; Education
Department of Energy
- the federal department responsible for maintaining a national energy policy of the United States; created in 1977; Energy Department; Energy; DOE
Department of Energy Intelligence
- an agency that collects political and economic and technical information about energy matters and makes the Department of Energy's technical and analytical expertise available to other members of the Intelligence Community; DOEI
n.
- a former executive department of the United States government; created in 1953 and divided in 1979
n.
- the United States federal department that administers all federal programs dealing with health and welfare; created in 1979; Health and Human Services; HHS
Department of Homeland Security
- the federal department that administers all matters relating to homeland security; Homeland Security
n.
- the United States federal department that administers federal programs dealing with better housing and urban renewal; created in 1965; Housing and Urban Development; HUD
Department of Justice
- the United States federal department responsible for enforcing federal laws (including the enforcement of all civil rights legislation); created in 1870; Justice Department; Justice; DoJ
Department of Justice Canada
- an agency of the Canadian government that provides litigation and legal advice and opinions to the government; DoJC
Department of Labor
- the federal department responsible for promoting the working conditions of wage earners in the United States; created in 1913; Labor Department; Labor; DoL
Department of State
- the federal department in the United States that sets and maintains foreign policies; United States Department of State; State Department; State; DoS
Department of Transportation
- the United States federal department that institutes and coordinates national transportation programs; created in 1966; Transportation; DoT
Department of Veterans Affairs
- the United States federal department responsible for the interests of military veterans; created in 1989; VA
n.
- the United States federal department charged with conservation and the development of natural resources; created in 1849; Interior Department; Interior; DoI
n.
- the federal department that collects revenue and administers federal finances; the Treasury Department was created in 1789; Treasury Department; Treasury; United States Treasury
Director of Central Intelligence
- the head of the United States Intelligence Community and director of the Central Intelligence Agency; DCI
Disciples of Christ
- a Protestant church that accepts the Bible as the only source of true Christian faith and practices baptism by immersion; Christian Church
District of Columbia
- the district occupied entirely by the city of Washington; chosen by George Washington as the site of the capital of the United States and created out of land ceded by Maryland and Virginia; D.C.; DC
Doctor of Arts
- an honorary arts degree; ArtsD
- a doctor's degree with a special disciplinary focus; D.A.
Doctor of Dental Medicine
- a doctor's degree in dental medicine; DMD
Doctor of Dental Surgery
- a doctor's degree in dental surgery; DDS
Doctor of Divinity
- a doctor's degree in religion; DD
Doctor of Education
- a doctor's degree in education; EdD; DEd
Doctor of Fine Arts
- an honorary degree in fine arts
Doctor of Humane Letters
- an honorary degree in letters
Doctor of Humanities
- an honorary degree in the humanities
Doctor of Laws
- an honorary law degree; LLD
Doctor of Medicine
- a doctor's degree in medicine; MD
Doctor of Music
- a doctor's degree in music; DMus; MusD
Doctor of Musical Arts
- a doctor's degree in musical arts; AMusD
Doctor of Optometry
- a doctor's degree in optometry; OD
Doctor of Osteopathy
- doctor's degree in osteopathy; DO
Doctor of Philosophy
- a doctorate awarded for original contributions to knowledge
Doctor of Public Health
- a doctor's degree in preventive medicine; DPH
Doctor of Sacred Theology
- a doctor's degree in theology; STD
Doctor of Science
- an honorary degree in science; DS; ScD
Doctor of Theology
- a doctor's degree in theology; ThD
n.
- (Roman Catholic Church) a title conferred on 33 saints who distinguished themselves through the orthodoxy of their theological teaching; Doctor
Duchess of Ferrara
- Italian noblewoman and patron of the arts (1480-1519); Borgia; Lucrezia Borgia
Duchess of Windsor
- United States divorcee whose marriage to Edward VIII created a constitutional crisis leading to his abdication; Simpson; Mrs. Simpson; Wallis Warfield Simpson; Wallis Warfield Windsor
n.
- deciduous erect or spreading shrub with spiny branches and violet-purple flowers followed by orange-red berries; southeastern Europe to China; common matrimony vine; Lycium barbarum; Lycium halimifolium
Duke of Cumberland
- English general; son of George II; fought unsuccessfully in the battle of Fontenoy (1721-1765); Cumberland; William Augustus; Butcher Cumberland
Duke of Edinburgh
- Englishman and husband of Elizabeth II (born 1921); Philip; Prince Philip
Duke of Lancaster
- the fourth son of Edward III who was the effective ruler of England during the close of his father's reign and during the minority of Richard II; his son was Henry Bolingbroke (1340-1399); John of Gaunt
Duke of Marlborough
- English general considered one of the greatest generals in history (1650-1722); Churchill; John Churchill; First Duke of Marlborough
Duke of Wellington
- British general and statesman; he defeated Napoleon at Waterloo; subsequently served as Prime Minister (1769-1852); Wellington; First Duke of Wellington; Arthur Wellesley; Iron Duke
Duke of Windsor
- King of England and Ireland in 1936; his marriage to Wallis Warfield Simpson created a constitutional crisis leading to his abdication (1894-1972); Edward; Edward VIII
Earl of Leicester
- an English nobleman who led the baronial rebellion against Henry III (1208-1265); Montfort; Simon de Montfort
Earl of Warwick
- English statesman; during the War of the Roses he fought first for the house of York and secured the throne for Edward IV and then changed sides to fight for the house of Lancaster and secured the throne for Henry VI (1428-1471); Warwick; Richard Neville; Kingmaker
n.
- a generalization of special relativity to include gravity (based on the principle of equivalence); general relativity; general theory of relativity; general relativity theory
n.
- a physical theory of relativity based on the assumption that the speed of light in a vacuum is a constant and the assumption that the laws of physics are invariant in all inertial systems; special relativity; special theory of relativity; special relativity theory
n.
- (physics) the theory that space and time are relative concepts rather than absolute concepts; relativity; theory of relativity; relativity theory
Eleanor of Aquitaine
- queen of France as the wife of Louis VII; that marriage was annulled in 1152 and she then married Henry II and became Queen of England (1122-1204)
Emperor of Rome
- sovereign of the Roman Empire; Roman Emperor
n.
- a state in southeastern United States; one of the Confederate states during the American Civil War; Georgia; Peach State; GA
Epiphany of Our Lord
- twelve days after Christmas; celebrates the visit of the three wise men to the infant Jesus; Epiphany; Twelfth day; Three Kings' Day; January 6
Episcopal Church of Scotland
- an autonomous branch of the Anglican Communion in Scotland; Episcopal Church
Epistle of James
- a New Testament book attributed to Saint James the Apostle; James
Epistle of Jeremiah
- an Apocryphal book consisting of a letter ascribed to Jeremiah to the Jews in exile in Babylon warning them against idolatry; Letter of Jeremiah
Epistle of Jude
- a New Testament book attributed to Saint Jude; Jude
n.
- a New Testament book containing an epistle from Saint Paul to Philemon asking Philemon to forgive the slave for escaping; Epistle to Philemon; Philemon
n.
- a New Testament book containing Saint Paul's epistle to Titus; contains advice on pastoral matters; Epistle to Titus; Titus
n.
- a New Testament book containing an epistle from Saint Paul to the Colossians in ancient Phrygia; Epistle to the Colossians; Colossians
n.
- a New Testament book containing the epistle from Saint Paul to the Ephesians which explains the divine plan for the world and the consummation of this in Christ; Epistle to the Ephesians; Ephesians
n.
- a New Testament book containing the epistle from Saint Paul to the Galatians; Epistle to the Galatians; Galatians
n.
- a New Testament book containing an epistle from Saint Paul to the church at Philippi in Macedonia; Epistle to the Philippians; Philippians
n.
- a New Testament book containing an exposition of the doctrines of Saint Paul; written in AD 58; Epistle to the Romans; Romans
Eusebius of Caesarea
- Christian bishop of Caesarea in Palestine; a church historian and a leading early Christian exegete (circa 270-340); Eusebius
n.
- the branch of the United States government that is responsible for carrying out the laws; executive branch
Eye of Ra
- a lion-headed Egyptian goddess; typifies life-destroying power of the sun; Sekhet
Fall of Man
- (Judeo-Christian mythology) when Adam and Eve ate of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden, God punished them by driving them out of the Garden of Eden and into the world where they would be subject to sickness and pain and eventual death
Fast of Ab
- (Judaism) a major fast day on the Jewish calendar commemorating the destruction of the temples in Jerusalem; Tishah b'Av; Tishah b'Ab; Tisha b'Av; Tisha b'Ab; Ninth of Av; Ninth of Ab; Fast of Av
Fast of Av
- (Judaism) a major fast day on the Jewish calendar commemorating the destruction of the temples in Jerusalem; Tishah b'Av; Tishah b'Ab; Tisha b'Av; Tisha b'Ab; Ninth of Av; Ninth of Ab; Fast of Ab
Fast of Esther
- (Judaism) a minor fast day on Adar 13 commemorates three days that Esther fasted before approaching the Persian king on behalf of the Jewish people; the fast is connected with Purim
Fast of Gedaliah
- (Judaism) a minor fast day on Tishri 3 that commemorates the killing of the Jewish governor of Judah
Fast of Tammuz
- (Judaism) a minor fast day on Tammuz 17 when the walls of Jerusalem were breached
Fast of Tevet
- (Judaism) a minor fast day on Tevet 10 commemorates the beginning of the siege of Jerusalem and has also been proclaimed a memorial day for the six million Jews who died in the Holocaust
n.
- (Judaism) a minor fast day on Nissan 14 that is observed only by firstborn males; it is observed on the day before Passover
Father of Radio
- United States electrical engineer who in 1907 patented the first triode vacuum tube, which made it possible to detect and amplify radio waves (1873-1961); De Forest; Lee De Forest
n.
- (Christianity) any of about 70 theologians in the period from the 2nd to the 7th century whose writing established and confirmed official church doctrine; in the Roman Catholic Church some were later declared saints and became Doctor of the Church; the best known Latin Church Fathers are Ambrose, Augustine, Gregory the Great, and Jerome; those who wrote in Greek include Athanasius, Basil, Gregory Nazianzen, and John Chrysostom; Church Father; Father
n.
- American inventor who in 1775 designed a man-propelled submarine that was ineffectual but subsequently earned him recognition as a submarine pioneer (1742-1824); Bushnell; David Bushnell
Feast of Booths
- a major Jewish festival beginning on the eve of the 15th of Tishri and commemorating the shelter of the Israelites during their 40 years in the wilderness; Succoth; Sukkoth; Succos; Feast of Tabernacles; Tabernacles
Feast of Dedication
- (Judaism) an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Temple of Jerusalem in 165 BC; Hanukkah; Hanukah; Hannukah; Chanukah; Chanukkah; Channukah; Channukkah; Festival of Lights; Feast of Lights; Feast of the Dedication
Feast of Dormition
- celebration in the Eastern Orthodox Church of the Virgin Mary's being taken up into heaven when her earthly life ended; corresponds to the Assumption in the Roman Catholic Church and is also celebrated on August 15th; Dormition
Feast of Lights
- (Judaism) an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Temple of Jerusalem in 165 BC; Hanukkah; Hanukah; Hannukah; Chanukah; Chanukkah; Channukah; Channukkah; Festival of Lights; Feast of Dedication; Feast of the Dedication
Feast of Sacrifice
- the 10th day of Dhu'l-Hijja; all Muslims attend a service in the mosques and those who are not pilgrims perform a ritual slaughter of a sheep (commemorating God's ransom of Abraham's son from sacrifice) and give at least a third of the meat to charity; Id al-Adha
Feast of Tabernacles
- a major Jewish festival beginning on the eve of the 15th of Tishri and commemorating the shelter of the Israelites during their 40 years in the wilderness; Succoth; Sukkoth; Succos; Feast of Booths; Tabernacles
Feast of Weeks
- (Judaism) Jewish holy day celebrated on the sixth of Sivan to celebrate Moses receiving the Ten Commandments; Shavous; Shabuoth; Shavuoth; Shavuot; Pentecost
n.
- (Roman Catholic Church and Anglican Church) feast day celebrating the circumcision of Jesus; celebrated on January 1st; Circumcision; January 1
n.
- (Judaism) an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Temple of Jerusalem in 165 BC; Hanukkah; Hanukah; Hannukah; Chanukah; Chanukkah; Channukah; Channukkah; Festival of Lights; Feast of Lights; Feast of Dedication
n.
- (Judaism) a Jewish festival (traditionally 8 days from Nissan 15) celebrating the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt; Passover; Pesach; Pesah
Federal Bureau of Investigation
- a federal law enforcement agency that is the principal investigative arm of the Department of Justice; FBI
Federal Bureau of Prisons
- the law enforcement agency of the Justice Department that operates a nationwide system of prisons and detention facilities to incarcerate inmates sentenced to imprisonment for federal crimes; BoP
Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
- Ethiopia is a republic in northeastern Africa on the Red Sea; formerly called Abyssinia; Ethiopia; Yaltopya; Abyssinia
Federal Republic of Germany
- a republic in central Europe; split into East Germany and West Germany after World War II and reunited in 1990; Germany; Deutschland; FRG
- a republic in north central Europe on the North Sea; established in 1949 from the zones of Germany occupied by the British and French and Americans after the German defeat; reunified with East Germany in 1990; West Germany
Federal Republic of Nigeria
- a republic in West Africa on the Gulf of Guinea; gained independence from Britain in 1960; most populous African country; Nigeria
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
- a mountainous republic in southeastern Europe bordering on the Adriatic Sea; formed from two of the six republics that made up Yugoslavia until 1992; Serbia and Montenegro were known as the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia until 2003 when they adopted the name of the Union of Serbia and Montenegro; Serbia and Montenegro; Union of Serbia and Montenegro; Yugoslavia; Jugoslavija
Federated States of Micronesia
- a country scattered over Micronesia with a constitutional government in free association with the United States; achieved independence in 1986; Micronesia; TT
n.
- a country on several of the Leeward Islands; located to the east southeast of Puerto Rico; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1983; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Christopher-Nevis; St. Christopher-Nevis; St. Kitts and Nevis
Federative Republic of Brazil
- the largest Latin American country and the largest Portuguese speaking country in the world; located in the central and northeastern part of South America; world's leading coffee exporter; Brazil; Brasil
Ferdinand of Aragon
- the king of Castile and Aragon who ruled jointly with his wife Isabella; his marriage to Isabella I in 1469 marked the beginning of the modern state of Spain and their capture of Granada from the Moors in 1492 united Spain as one country; they instituted the Spanish Inquisition in 1478 and supported the expedition of Christopher Columbus in 1492 (1452-1516); Ferdinand; King Ferdinand; Ferdinand V; Ferdinand the Catholic
Festival of Lights
- (Judaism) an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Temple of Jerusalem in 165 BC; Hanukkah; Hanukah; Hannukah; Chanukah; Chanukkah; Channukah; Channukkah; Feast of Lights; Feast of Dedication; Feast of the Dedication
First Baron Marks of Broughton
- English businessman who created a retail chain (1888-1964); Marks; Simon Marks
First Baron Rutherford of Nelson
- British physicist (born in New Zealand) who discovered the atomic nucleus and proposed a nuclear model of the atom (1871-1937); Rutherford; Ernest Rutherford; First Baron Rutherford
First Council of Constantinople
- the second ecumenical council in 381 which added wording about the Holy Spirit to the Nicene Creed; Constantinople
First Council of Lyons
- the council of the Western Church in 1245 that excommunicated Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II and planned a new crusade against the Holy Land; Lyons
First Council of Nicaea
- the first ecumenical council in 325 which produced the wording of the Nicene Creed and condemned the heresy of Arianism; Nicaea
First Duke of Marlborough
- English general considered one of the greatest generals in history (1650-1722); Churchill; John Churchill; Duke of Marlborough
First Duke of Wellington
- British general and statesman; he defeated Napoleon at Waterloo; subsequently served as Prime Minister (1769-1852); Wellington; Duke of Wellington; Arthur Wellesley; Iron Duke
First Earl Kitchener of Khartoum
- British field marshal (1850-1916); Kitchener; Herbert Kitchener; Horatio Herbert Kitchener
First Earl of Beaconsfield
- British statesman who as Prime Minister bought controlling interest in the Suez Canal and made Queen Victoria the empress of India (1804-1881); Disraeli; Benjamin Disraeli
First Earl of Chatham
- English statesman who brought the Seven Years' War to an end (1708-1778); Pitt; William Pitt; Pitt the Elder
First Earl of Orford
- Englishman and Whig statesman who (under George I) was effectively the first British prime minister (1676-1745); Walpole; Robert Walpole; Sir Robert Walpole
First Epistle of John
- the first New Testament epistle traditionally attributed to Saint John the Apostle; I John
n.
- a New Testament book containing Saint Paul's first epistle to Timothy; contains advice on pastoral matters; First Epistle to Timothy; I Timothy
n.
- a New Testament book containing the first epistle from Saint Paul to the church at Corinth; First Epistle to the Corinthians; I Corinthians
n.
- a New Testament book containing Saint Paul's first epistle to the Thessalonians; First Epistle to the Thessalonians; I Thessalonians
First Epistle of Peter
- the first New Testament book traditionally attributed to Saint Peter the Apostle; I Peter
n.
- the British cabinet minister responsible for economic strategy; Treasury
First Viscount Haldane of Cloan
- Scottish statesman and brother of Elizabeth and John Haldane (1856-1928); Haldane; Richard Haldane; Richard Burdon Haldane
First of May
- observed in many countries to celebrate the coming of spring; observed in Russia and related countries in honor of labor; May Day; May 1
First of October Antifascist Resistance Group
- an armed wing of the (illegal) Communist Party of Spain; seeks to overthrow the Spanish government and replace it with a Marxist-Leninist regime; GRAPO
Firth of Clyde
- a firth on the southwestern coast of Scotland emptying into the North Channel
Firth of Forth
- a large firth on the east coast of Scotland and the estuary of the Forth River; location of Edinburgh
n.
- a resurgent Islamic fundamentalist organization based in Nigeria that is thought to be planning terrorist attacks; al Sunna Wal Jamma
n.
- the United Nations agency concerned with the international organization of food and agriculture; Food and Agriculture Organization; FAO
Forces of Umar Al-Mukhtar
- a little known Palestinian group responsible for bombings and for killing Israelis; seeks to defeat Israel and liberate southern Lebanon, Palestine, and Golan Heights; Umar al-Mukhtar Forces
Fountain of Youth
- a fountain described in folk tales as able to make people young again
Fourth Council of Constantinople
- the council in 869 that condemned Photius who had become the patriarch of Constantinople without approval from the Vatican, thereby precipitating the schism between the eastern and western churches; Constantinople
Fourth Earl of Chesterfield
- suave and witty English statesman remembered mostly for letters to his son (1694-1773); Chesterfield; Philip Dormer Stanhope
Fourth Earl of Orford
- English writer and historian; son of Sir Robert Walpole (1717-1797); Walpole; Horace Walpole; Horatio Walpole
Fourth of July
- a legal holiday in the United States; Independence Day; July 4
Francis of Assisi
- (Roman Catholic Church) an Italian and the Roman Catholic monk who founded the Franciscan order of friars (1181-1226); Saint Francis of Assisi; St. Francis of Assisi; Saint Francis; St. Francis; Giovanni di Bernardone
Garden of Eden
- a beautiful garden where Adam and Eve were placed at the Creation; when they disobeyed and ate the forbidden fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil they were driven from their paradise (the fall of man); Eden
n.
- a large national park in Alaska featuring the Great Mendenhall Glacier
General Certificate of Secondary Education
- the basic level of a subject taken in school; GCSE; O level
Geoffrey of Monmouth
- Welsh chronicler who wrote an account of the kings of Britain which is now believed to contain little historical fact but it is a source of the Arthurian legend (circa 1100-1154)
n.
- a principle of Gestalt psychology that identifies factors leading to particular forms of perceptual organization; Gestalt principle of organization
n.
- a principle of Gestalt psychology that identifies factors leading to particular forms of perceptual organization; Gestalt law of organization
Gospel of Luke
- one of the four Gospels in the New Testament; contains details of Jesus's birth and early life; Luke; Gospel According to Luke
Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
- a grand duchy (a constitutional monarchy) landlocked in northwestern Europe between France and Belgium and Germany; an international financial center; Luxembourg; Luxemburg
Great Plains of North America
- a vast prairie region extending from Alberta and Saskatchewan and Manitoba in Canada south through the west central United States into Texas; formerly inhabited by Native Americans; Great Plains
Great Wall of China
- a fortification 1,500 miles long built across northern China in the 3rd century BC; it averages 6 meters in width; Chinese Wall; Great Wall
Gregory of Nazianzen
- (Roman Catholic Church) a church father known for his constant fight against perceived heresies; a saint and Doctor of the Church (329-391); Gregory; Gregory Nazianzen; St. Gregory of Nazianzen
Guibert of Ravenna
- Italian antipope from 1080 to 1100 who was installed as pope by the Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV who consistently opposed efforts at papal reform (died in 1100); Clement III
Gulf of Aden
- arm of the Indian Ocean at the entrance to the Red Sea
Gulf of Aegina
- a gulf of the Aegean on the southeastern coast of Greece; Saronic Gulf
Gulf of Akaba
- a northeastern arm of the Red Sea; between the Sinai Peninsula (Egypt) and Saudi Arabia; Gulf of Aqaba
Gulf of Alaska
- a gulf of the Pacific Ocean between the Alaska Peninsula and the Alexander Archipelago
Gulf of Antalya
- a gulf of the Mediterranean Sea in southwestern Turkey
Gulf of Aqaba
- a northeastern arm of the Red Sea; between the Sinai Peninsula (Egypt) and Saudi Arabia; Gulf of Akaba
Gulf of Bothnia
- a northern arm of the Baltic Sea; between Sweden and Finland
Gulf of California
- a gulf to the west of the mainland of Mexico; Sea of Cortes
Gulf of Campeche
- a part of the Gulf of Mexico to the west of Yucatan; Golfo de Campeche; Bay of Campeche
Gulf of Carpentaria
- a wide shallow inlet of the Arafura Sea in northern Australia; Carpentaria
Gulf of Corinth
- inlet of the Ionian Sea between central Greece and the Peloponnesus; Gulf of Lepanto
Gulf of Finland
- an eastern arm of the Baltic Sea; between Finland and Estonia
Gulf of Guinea
- a gulf off the southwest coast of Africa
Gulf of Lepanto
- inlet of the Ionian Sea between central Greece and the Peloponnesus; Gulf of Corinth
Gulf of Martaban
- an arm of the Andaman Sea off southern Myanmar
Gulf of Mexico
- an arm of the Atlantic to the south of the United States and to the east of Mexico; Golfo de Mexico
Gulf of Ob
- an inlet of the Kara Sea in western Siberia; Bay of Ob
Gulf of Oman
- an arm of the Arabian Sea connecting it with the Persian Gulf
Gulf of Riga
- an inlet of the Baltic Sea between Latvia and Estonia
Gulf of Saint Lawrence
- an arm of the northwest Atlantic Ocean off the southeastern coast of Canada; Gulf of St. Lawrence
Gulf of Siam
- an arm of the South China Sea between Indochina and the Malay Peninsula; Gulf of Thailand
Gulf of Sidra
- wide inlet of the Mediterranean Sea on the north coast of Libya
Gulf of St. Lawrence
- an arm of the northwest Atlantic Ocean off the southeastern coast of Canada; Gulf of Saint Lawrence
Gulf of Suez
- a northwestern arm of the Red Sea linked to the Mediterranean by the Suez Canal
Gulf of Tehuantepec
- an arm of the Pacific in southern Mexico
Gulf of Thailand
- an arm of the South China Sea between Indochina and the Malay Peninsula; Gulf of Siam
Gulf of Venice
- an arm of the Adriatic Sea
Guy of Burgundy
- pope who in 1122 forced the Holy Roman Emperor Henry V to sign a concordat that recognized the right of the church to choose its own leadership (died in 1124); Calixtus II
Hall of Fame
- a building containing trophies honoring famous people
Hanging Gardens of Babylon
- a terraced garden at Babylon watered by pumps from the Euphrates; construction attributed to Nebuchadnezzar around 600 BC
Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
- an Arab kingdom in southwestern Asia on the Red Sea; Jordan
Heart of Dixie
- a state in the southeastern United States on the Gulf of Mexico; one of the Confederate states during the American Civil War; Alabama; Camellia State; AL
Helen of Troy
- (Greek mythology) the beautiful daughter of Zeus and Leda who was abducted by Paris; the Greek army sailed to Troy to get her back which resulted in the Trojan War; Helen
Henry of Navarre
- king of France from 1589 to 1610; although he was leader of the Huguenot armies, when he succeeded the Catholic Henry III and founded the Bourbon dynasty in 1589 he established religious freedom in France; Henry IV; Henry the Great
Hero of Alexandria
- Greek mathematician and inventor who devised a way to determine the area of a triangle and who described various mechanical devices (first century); Hero; Heron
Highlands of Scotland
- a mountainous region of northern Scotland famous for its rugged beauty; known for the style of dress (the kilt and tartan) and the clan system (now in disuse); Highlands
Hook of Holland
- a cape on the southwestern coast of the Netherlands near Rotterdam; Hoek van Holland
Horn of Africa
- a peninsula of northeastern Africa (the easternmost part of Africa) comprising Somalia and Djibouti and Eritrea and parts of Ethiopia; Somali peninsula
House of Burgesses
- the lower house of legislature in colonial Virginia
House of Commons
- the lower house of the British parliament; British House of Commons
House of Hanover
- the English royal house that reigned from 1714 to 1901 (from George I to Victoria); Hanover; Hanoverian line
House of Islam
- areas where Muslims are in the majority; Dar al-Islam
House of Lancaster
- the English royal house that reigned from 1399 to 1461; its emblem was a red rose; Lancaster; Lancastrian line
House of Lords
- the upper house of the British parliament; British House of Lords
House of Representatives
- the lower legislative house of the United States Congress; United States House of Representatives; U.S. House of Representatives; US House of Representatives; U.S. House; US House
House of Tudor
- an English dynasty descended from Henry Tudor; Tudor monarchs ruled from Henry VII to Elizabeth I (from 1485 to 1603); Tudor
House of War
- areas where Muslims are in the minority and are persecuted; Dar al-harb
House of Windsor
- the British royal family since 1917; Windsor
House of York
- the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose; York
Houses of Parliament
- the building in which the House of Commons and the House of Lords meet
n.
- state capital and largest city of Massachusetts; a major center for banking and financial services; Boston; Bean Town; Beantown; capital of Massachusetts
n.
- the displacement of any point due to the superposition of wave systems is equal to the sum of the displacements of the individual waves at that point; principle of superposition
Ignatius of Loyola
- Spaniard and Roman Catholic theologian and founder of the Society of Jesus; a leading opponent of the Reformation (1491-1556); Saint Ignatius of Loyola; St. Ignatius of Loyola; Loyola
n.
- (Christianity) the Roman Catholic dogma that God preserved the Virgin Mary from any stain of original sin from the moment she was conceived; Immaculate Conception
Independent State of Papua New Guinea
- a parliamentary democracy on the eastern half of the island of New Guinea; in 1975 it became an independent state within the Commonwealth of Nations; Papua New Guinea
Independent State of Samoa
- a constitutional monarchy on the western part of the islands of Samoa in the South Pacific; Samoa; Western Samoa; Samoa i Sisifo
n.
- a former international labor union and radical labor movement in the United States; founded in Chicago in 1905 and dedicated to the overthrow of capitalism; its membership declined after World War I; IWW; I.W.W.
n.
- club dedicated to promoting responsible citizenship and good government and community and national and international welfare; Lions Club
International Court of Justice
- a court established to settle disputes between members of the United Nations; World Court
International System of Units
- a complete metric system of units of measurement for scientists; fundamental quantities are length (meter) and mass (kilogram) and time (second) and electric current (ampere) and temperature (kelvin) and amount of matter (mole) and luminous intensity (candela); Systeme International d'Unites; Systeme International; SI system; SI; SI unit; International System
Islamic Army of Aden
- Yemen-based terrorist group that supports al-Qaeda's goals; seeks to overthrow the Yemeni government and eliminate United States interests; responsible for bombings and kidnappings and killing western tourists in Yemen; IAA; Islamic Army of Aden-Abyan; Aden-Abyan Islamic Army
Islamic Army of Aden-Abyan
- Yemen-based terrorist group that supports al-Qaeda's goals; seeks to overthrow the Yemeni government and eliminate United States interests; responsible for bombings and kidnappings and killing western tourists in Yemen; Islamic Army of Aden; IAA; Aden-Abyan Islamic Army
Islamic Group of Uzbekistan
- a terrorist group of Islamic militants formed in 1996; opposes Uzbekistan's secular regime and wants to establish an Islamic state in central Asia; is a conduit for drugs from Afghanistan to central Asian countries; IMU; Islamic Party of Turkestan
n.
- a Shiite terrorist organization with strong ties to Iran; seeks to create an Iranian fundamentalist Islamic state in Lebanon; car bombs are the signature weapon; Hizballah; Hezbollah; Hizbollah; Hizbullah; Lebanese Hizballah; Party of God; Islamic Jihad; Revolutionary Justice Organization; Organization of the Oppressed on Earth
Islamic Party of Turkestan
- a terrorist group of Islamic militants formed in 1996; opposes Uzbekistan's secular regime and wants to establish an Islamic state in central Asia; is a conduit for drugs from Afghanistan to central Asian countries; Islamic Group of Uzbekistan; IMU
Islamic Republic of Iran
- a theocratic Islamic republic in the Middle East in western Asia; Iran was the core of the ancient empire that was known as Persia until 1935; rich in oil; Iran; Persia
Islamic Republic of Mauritania
- a country in northwestern Africa with a provisional military government; achieved independence from France in 1960; largely western Sahara Desert; Mauritania; Mauritanie; Muritaniya
Islamic Republic of Pakistan
- a Muslim republic that occupies the heartland of ancient south Asian civilization in the Indus River valley; formerly part of India; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1947; Pakistan; West Pakistan
Islamic State of Afghanistan
- a mountainous landlocked country in central Asia; bordered by Iran to the west and Russia to the north and Pakistan to the east and south; Afghanistan
Isle of Man
- one of the British Isles in the Irish Sea; Man
Isle of Skye
- an island of northwestern Scotland noted for its rugged mountain scenery
Isle of Wight
- an isle and county of southern England in the English Channel; Wight
Isles of Scilly
- an archipelago of small islands off the southwestern coast of England near the entrance to the English Channel; formerly a haven for smugglers and pirates; Scilly Islands
Isthmus of Corinth
- a narrow isthmus between the Gulf of Corinth and the Saronic Gulf; a canal crosses the isthmus so that navigation is possible between the gulfs
Isthmus of Darien
- the isthmus that connects Central America and South America; was formerly called the Isthmus of Darien; Isthmus of Panama
Isthmus of Kra
- a narrow isthmus linking the Malay Peninsula to the Asian mainland
Isthmus of Panama
- the isthmus that connects Central America and South America; was formerly called the Isthmus of Darien; Isthmus of Darien
Isthmus of Suez
- the isthmus in northeastern Egypt that connects Africa and Asia
Isthmus of Tehuantepec
- the narrowest part of southern Mexico is an isthmus between the Bay of Campeche on the north coast and the Gulf of Tehuantepec on the south coast
Jaws of Life
- hydraulic tool inserted into a wrecked vehicle and used to pry the wreckage apart in order to provide access to people trapped inside
Jesus of Nazareth
- a teacher and prophet born in Bethlehem and active in Nazareth; his life and sermons form the basis for Christianity (circa 4 BC - AD 29); Jesus; the Nazarene; Jesus Christ; Christ; Savior; Saviour; Good Shepherd; Redeemer; Deliverer
Joan of Arc
- French heroine and military leader inspired by religious visions to organize French resistance to the English and to have Charles VII crowned king; she was later tried for heresy and burned at the stake (1412-1431); Jeanne d'Arc; Saint Joan
John of Gaunt
- the fourth son of Edward III who was the effective ruler of England during the close of his father's reign and during the minority of Richard II; his son was Henry Bolingbroke (1340-1399); Duke of Lancaster
Joint Chiefs of Staff
- the executive agency that advises the President on military questions; composed of the chiefs of the United States Army and the United States Navy and the United States Air Force and the commandant of the United States Marine Corps; Joint Chiefs
n.
- (astronomy) one of three empirical laws of planetary motion stated by Johannes Kepler; Kepler's law
King of England
- the sovereign ruler of England; King of Great Britain
King of France
- the sovereign ruler of France
King of Great Britain
- the sovereign ruler of England; King of England
King of Swing
- United States clarinetist who in 1934 formed a big band (including black as well as white musicians) and introduced a kind of jazz known as swing (1909-1986); Goodman; Benny Goodman; Benjamin David Goodman
Kingdom of Belgium
- a monarchy in northwestern Europe; headquarters for the European Union and for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization; Belgium; Belgique
Kingdom of Bhutan
- a landlocked principality in the Himalayas to the northeast of India; Bhutan
Kingdom of Cambodia
- a nation in southeastern Asia; was part of Indochina under French rule until 1946; Cambodia; Kampuchea
Kingdom of Denmark
- a constitutional monarchy in northern Europe; consists of the mainland of Jutland and many islands between the North Sea and the Baltic Sea; Denmark; Danmark
Kingdom of God
- the spiritual domain over which God is sovereign
Kingdom of Lesotho
- a landlocked constitutional monarchy in southern Africa; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1966; Lesotho; Basutoland
Kingdom of Morocco
- a kingdom (constitutional monarchy) in northwestern Africa with a largely Muslim population; achieved independence from France in 1956; Morocco; Maroc; Marruecos; Al-Magrib
Kingdom of Nepal
- a small landlocked Asian country high in the Himalayas between India and China; Nepal
Kingdom of Norway
- a constitutional monarchy in northern Europe on the western side of the Scandinavian Peninsula; achieved independence from Sweden in 1905; Norway; Norge; Noreg
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
- an absolute monarchy occupying most of the Arabian Peninsula in southwest Asia; vast oil reserves dominate the economy; Saudi Arabia
Kingdom of Spain
- a parliamentary monarchy in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula; a former colonial power; Spain; Espana
Kingdom of Swaziland
- a landlocked monarchy in southeastern Africa; member of the commonwealth that achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1968; Swaziland
Kingdom of Sweden
- a Scandinavian kingdom in the eastern part of the Scandinavian Peninsula; Sweden; Sverige
Kingdom of Thailand
- a country of southeastern Asia that extends southward along the Isthmus of Kra to the Malay Peninsula; Thailand; Siam
Kingdom of The Netherlands
- a constitutional monarchy in western Europe on the North Sea; half the country lies below sea level; Netherlands; The Netherlands; Nederland; Holland
Kingdom of Tonga
- a monarchy on a Polynesian archipelago in the South Pacific; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1970; Tonga; Friendly Islands
Labyrinth of Minos
- a vast labyrinth built in Crete by Daedalus at the command of Minos in order to contain the Minotaur
n.
- a method that prepares a mother for natural childbirth; the pregnant woman (in classes and at home) practices (usually with the help of a coach) and learns about the physiology of childbirth and techniques of relaxation, concentration, and breathing; Lamaze method
Land of Enchantment
- a state in southwestern United States on the Mexican border; New Mexico; NM
Land of Lincoln
- a midwestern state in north-central United States; Illinois; Prairie State; IL
Land of Opportunity
- a state in south central United States; one of the Confederate states during the American Civil War; Arkansas; AR
n.
- a violent terrorist group organized in the 1980s and advocating the overthrow of the Chilean military government; leaders are mainly criminals or impoverished youths; Lautaro Youth Movement; Lautaro Popular Rebel Forces
Law of Moses
- the laws (beginning with the Ten Commandments) that God gave to the Israelites through Moses; it includes many rules of religious observance given in the first five books of the Old Testament (in Judaism these books are called the Torah); Mosaic law
Lawrence of Arabia
- Welsh soldier who from 1916 to 1918 organized the Arab revolt against the Turks; he later wrote an account of his adventures (1888-1935); Lawrence; T. E. Lawrence; Thomas Edward Lawrence
League of Iroquois
- a league of Iroquois tribes including originally the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga and Seneca (the Five Nations); after 1722 they were joined by the Tuscarora (the Six Nations); Iroquois League; Five Nations; Six Nations
League of Nations
- an international organization formed in 1920 to promote cooperation and peace among nations; although suggested by Woodrow Wilson, the United States never joined and it remained powerless; it was dissolved in 1946 after the United Nations was formed
Leaning Tower of Pisa
- a tall round marble campanile in Pisa that is not perpendicular; construction was begun in 1174; Leaning Tower
n.
- a method of childbirth that tries to minimize the trauma for the newborn; delivery occurs in a quiet dimly lit room and the infant's head is not pulled and immediate bonding between mother and child is encouraged; Leboyer method
Letter of Jeremiah
- an Apocryphal book consisting of a letter ascribed to Jeremiah to the Jews in exile in Babylon warning them against idolatry; Epistle of Jeremiah
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
- a terrorist organization in Sri Lanka that began in 1970 as a student protest over the limited university access for Tamil students; currently seeks to establish an independent Tamil state called Eelam; relies on guerilla strategy including terrorist tactics that target key government and military personnel; LTTE; Tamil Tigers; Tigers; World Tamil Association; World Tamil Movement
Line of Control
- a 450-mile line that is supposed to indicate the boundary between the part of Kashmir controlled by India and the part controlled by Pakistan
Lord Britten of Aldeburgh
- major English composer of the 20th century; noted for his operas (1913-1976); Britten; Benjamin Britten; Edward Benjamin Britten
Lord of Misrule
- a person appointed master of revels at a Christmas celebration
Lowlands of Scotland
- the southern part of Scotland that is not mountainous; Lowlands
Martyrs of al-Aqsa
- a militant offshoot of al-Fatah that is the newest and strongest and best equipped faction active in the West Bank; responsible for many deadly attacks in Israel in 2002; Aksa Martyrs Brigades; al-Aksa Martyrs Brigades
Mary Queen of Scots
- queen of Scotland from 1542 to 1567; as a Catholic she was forced to abdicate in favor of her son and fled to England where she was imprisoned by Elizabeth I; when Catholic supporters plotted to put her on the English throne she was tried and executed for sedition (1542-1587); Mary Stuart
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- an engineering university in Cambridge; MIT
Master of Architecture
- a degree granted for the successful completion of advanced study of architecture; MArch
Master of Arts
- a master's degree in arts and sciences; MA; Artium Magister; AM
Master of Divinity
- a master's degree in religion; MDiv
Master of Education
- a master's degree in education; MEd
Master of Fine Arts
- a master's degree in fine arts; MFA
Master of Laws
- an advanced law degree; LLM
Master of Library Science
- a master's degree in library science; MLS
Master of Literature
- a master's degree in literature; MLitt
Master of Science
- a master's degree in science; MS; SM; MSc
Master of Theology
- a master's degree in theology; ThM
Medal of Honor
- the highest U.S. military decoration awarded for bravery and valor in action `above and beyond the call of duty'; Congressional Medal of Honor
Member of Parliament
- an elected member of the British Parliament: a member of the House of Commons; Parliamentarian
n.
- a compulsory annual test of older motor vehicles for safety and exhaust fumes; MOT; MOT test
Movement of Holy Warriors
- an Islamic fundamentalist group in Pakistan that fought the Soviet Union in Afghanistan in the 1980s; now operates as a terrorist organization primarily in Kashmir and seeks Kashmir's accession by Pakistan; Harkat-ul-Mujahidin; HUM; Harkat ul-Ansar; HUA; Harkat ul-Mujahedeen; Al Faran
Nation of Islam
- a group of militant Black Americans who profess Islamic religious beliefs and advocate independence for Black Americans
National Academy of Sciences
- an honorary American society of scientists created by President Lincoln during the American Civil War
National Association of Realtors
- a United States association of real estate agents which follows a strict code of ethics
National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations
- a computerized data system to provide brokers with price quotations for securities traded over the counter; NASDAQ
National Baseball Hall of Fame
- a Hall of Fame and museum in Cooperstown, New York, honoring great baseball players
National Institute of Justice
- the law enforcement agency that is the research and development branch of the Department of Justice; NIJ
n.
- an agency in the Technology Administration that makes measurements and sets standards as needed by industry or government programs; NIST
National Institutes of Health
- an agency in the Department of Health and Human Services whose mission is to employ science in the pursuit of knowledge to improve human health; is the principal biomedical research agency of the federal government; NIH
National Liberation Front of Corsica
- a terrorist group formed in 1976 to work for Corsican independence; attacks on Corsica are aimed at sabotaging public infrastructure and symbols of colonialism; FLNC
National Library of Medicine
- the world's largest medical library; United States National Library of Medicine; U.S. National Library of Medicine
n.
- a body remains at rest or in motion with a constant velocity unless acted upon by an external force; first law of motion; Newton's first law
n.
- (physics) the law that states any two bodies attract each other with a force that is directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them; law of gravitation
n.
- one of three basic laws of classical mechanics; Newton's law; law of motion
n.
- the rate of change of momentum is proportional to the imposed force and goes in the direction of the force; second law of motion; Newton's second law
n.
- (physics) the theory that any two particles of matter attract one another with a force directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them; theory of gravitation; theory of gravity; gravitational theory
n.
- action and reaction are equal and opposite; third law of motion; Newton's third law; law of action and reaction
Ninth of Ab
- (Judaism) a major fast day on the Jewish calendar commemorating the destruction of the temples in Jerusalem; Tishah b'Av; Tishah b'Ab; Tisha b'Av; Tisha b'Ab; Ninth of Av; Fast of Av; Fast of Ab
Ninth of Av
- (Judaism) a major fast day on the Jewish calendar commemorating the destruction of the temples in Jerusalem; Tishah b'Av; Tishah b'Ab; Tisha b'Av; Tisha b'Ab; Ninth of Ab; Fast of Av; Fast of Ab
Odo of Lagery
- French pope from 1088 to 1099 whose sermons called for the First Crusade (1042-1099); Urban II; Odo; Otho; Otho of Lagery
Office of Inspector General
- the investigative arm of the Federal Trade Commission; OIG
Office of Intelligence Support
- agency that oversees the intelligence relationships of the Treasury's offices and bureaus and provides a link between the Intelligence Community and officials responsible for international economic policy; OIS
n.
- the executive agency that advises the President on the federal budget; OMB
Office of Naval Intelligence
- the military intelligence agency that provides for the intelligence and counterintelligence and investigative and security requirements of the United States Navy; ONI
Oracle of Apollo
- (Greek mythology) the oracle at Delphi where a priestess supposedly delivered messages from Apollo to those who sought advice; the messages were usually obscure or ambiguous; Temple of Apollo; Delphic oracle; oracle of Delphi
Order of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
- a Roman Catholic mendicant order founded in the 12th century; Carmelite order
n.
- a United States military decoration awarded to any member of the armed forces who is wounded in action; Purple Heart
n.
- international organization for chemical disarmament; administers the Chemical Weapons Convention; OPCW
Organization of American States
- an association including most countries in the western hemisphere; created in 1948 to promote military and economic and social and cultural cooperation; OAS
Organization of Petroleum-Exporting Countries
- an organization of countries formed in 1961 to agree on a common policy for the production and sale of petroleum; OPEC
n.
- a Shiite terrorist organization with strong ties to Iran; seeks to create an Iranian fundamentalist Islamic state in Lebanon; car bombs are the signature weapon; Hizballah; Hezbollah; Hizbollah; Hizbullah; Lebanese Hizballah; Party of God; Islamic Jihad; Islamic Jihad for the Liberation of Palestine; Revolutionary Justice Organization
n.
- (chemistry) the theory that all indicators are either weak acids or weak bases in which the color of the ionized form is different from the color before dissociation; theory of indicators
Otho of Lagery
- French pope from 1088 to 1099 whose sermons called for the First Crusade (1042-1099); Urban II; Odo; Odo of Lagery; Otho
Palace of Versailles
- a palace built in the 17th century for Louis XIV southwest of Paris near the city of Versailles; Versailles
Party of Democratic Kampuchea
- a communist organization formed in Cambodia in 1970; became a terrorist organization in 1975 when it captured Phnom Penh and created a government that killed an estimated three million people; was defeated by Vietnamese troops but remained active until 1999; Khmer Rouge; KR; Communist Party of Kampuchea
Party of God
- a Shiite terrorist organization with strong ties to Iran; seeks to create an Iranian fundamentalist Islamic state in Lebanon; car bombs are the signature weapon; Hizballah; Hezbollah; Hizbollah; Hizbullah; Lebanese Hizballah; Islamic Jihad; Islamic Jihad for the Liberation of Palestine; Revolutionary Justice Organization; Organization of the Oppressed on Earth
n.
- pressure applied anywhere to a body of fluid causes a force to be transmitted equally in all directions; the force acts at right angles to any surface in contact with the fluid; Pascal's law
Passion of Christ
- the suffering of Jesus at the Crucifixion; Passion
Peace of Westphalia
- the peace treaty that ended the Thirty Years' War in 1648
People 's Mujahidin of Iran
- a terrorist organization formed in the 1960s by children of Iranian merchants; sought to counter the Shah of Iran's pro-western policies of modernization and opposition to communism; following a philosophy that mixes Marxism and Islam it now attacks the Islamic fundamentalists who deposed the Shah; Mujahidin-e Khalq Organization; MKO; MEK
People 's Republic of Bangladesh
- a Muslim republic in southern Asia bordered by India to the north and west and east and the Bay of Bengal to the south; formerly part of India and then part of Pakistan; it achieved independence in 1971; Bangladesh; Bangla Desh; East Pakistan
People 's Republic of China
- a communist nation that covers a vast territory in eastern Asia; the most populous country in the world; China; mainland China; Communist China; Red China; PRC; Cathay
Pharaoh of Egypt
- the title of the ancient Egyptian kings; Pharaoh
Philip II of Macedon
- king of ancient Macedonia and father of Alexander the Great (382-336 BC); Philip II
Philip II of Spain
- king of Spain and Portugal and husband of Mary I; he supported the Counter Reformation and sent the Spanish Armada to invade England (1527-1598); Philip II
Philip of Valois
- king of France who founded the Valois dynasty; his dispute with Edward III over his succession led to the Hundred Years' War (1293-1350); Philip VI
Pied Piper of Hamelin
- the title character in a German folk tale and in a poem by Robert Browning; Pied Piper
n.
- a type of glaciation characteristic of Alaska; large valley glaciers meet to form an almost stagnant sheet of ice; Piedmont glacier
Pillars of Hercules
- the two promontories at the eastern end of the Strait of Gibraltar; according to legend they were formed by Hercules
n.
- a Marxist-Leninist group that believes Palestinian goals can only be achieved by revolutionary change; Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine; DFLP; PDFLP
n.
- a terrorist group of limited popularity formed in 1967 after the Six-Day War; combined Marxist-Leninist ideology with Palestinian nationalism; used terrorism to gain attention for their cause; hoped to eliminate the state of Israel; PFLP
n.
- a Marxist-Leninist terrorist organization that conducted several attacks in western Europe; PFLP-GC
Port of Spain
- the capital and largest city of Trinidad and Tobago on the west coast of the island of Trinidad; Port-of-Spain; capital of Trinidad and Tobago
n.
- an Apocryphal book consisting of text added to the Book of Daniel
n.
- the person who holds the office of head of state of the United States government; United States President; President; Chief Executive
- the office of the United States head of state; President; Chief Executive
Prince Eugene of Savoy
- Austrian general in the service of the Holy Roman Empire during the War of the Spanish Succession (1663-1736); Eugene
Prince of Darkness
- (Judeo-Christian and Islamic religions) chief spirit of evil and adversary of God; tempter of mankind; master of Hell; Satan; Old Nick; Devil; Lucifer; Beelzebub; the Tempter
Prince of Smolensk
- Russian field marshal who commanded the Russian opposition to Napoleon (1745-1813); Kutuzov; Mikhail Ilarionovich Kutuzov
Prince of Wales
- the male heir apparent of the British sovereign
n.
- South African shrub grown for its profusion of white flowers; Prince-of-Wales'-heath; Erica perspicua
Princess Grace of Monaco
- United States film actress who retired when she married into the royal family of Monaco (1928-1982); Kelly; Grace Kelly; Grace Patricia Kelly
Princess of Wales
- English aristocrat who was the first wife of Prince Charles; her death in an automobile accident in Paris produced intense national mourning (1961-1997); Diana; Princess Diana; Lady Diana Frances Spencer
Principality of Andorra
- a small republic in the eastern Pyrenees between Spain and France; Andorra
Principality of Liechtenstein
- a small landlocked principality (constitutional monarchy) in central Europe located in the Alps between Austria and Switzerland; Liechtenstein
Principality of Monaco
- a constitutional monarchy in a tiny enclave on the French Riviera; Monaco
Protector of Boundaries
- an epithet for Jupiter; Jupiter Fidius
Pyramids of Egypt
- a massive monument with a square base and four triangular sides; begun by Cheops around 2700 BC as royal tombs in ancient Egypt; Pyramid; Great Pyramid
Queen of England
- the sovereign ruler of England
n.
- a method of natural childbirth that assumes it is a normal process and that the pain is largely psychological; involves education and breathing exercises to foster relaxation and other exercises; Read method
Reign of Terror
- the historic period (1793-94) during the French Revolution when thousands were executed
n.
- (Judaism) a Jewish holy day celebrated on the 22nd or 23rd of Tishri to celebrate the completion of the annual cycle of readings of the Torah; Shimchath Torah; Simchat Torah; Simhath Torah; Simhat Torah; Simchas Torah; Rejoicing over the Law; Rejoicing in the Law
Religious Society of Friends
- a Christian sect founded by George Fox about 1660; commonly called Quakers; Society of Friends; Quakers
Republic of Albania
- a republic in southeastern Europe on the Adriatic coast of the Balkan Peninsula; Albania
Republic of Angola
- a republic in southwestern Africa on the Atlantic Ocean; achieved independence from Portugal in 1975 and was the scene of civil war until 1990; Angola
Republic of Armenia
- a landlocked republic in southwestern Asia; formerly an Asian soviet; modern Armenia is but a fragment of ancient Armenia which was one of the world's oldest civilizations; throughout 2500 years the Armenian people have been invaded and oppressed by their neighbors; Armenia; Hayastan
Republic of Austria
- a mountainous republic in central Europe; under the Habsburgs (1278-1918) Austria maintained control of the Holy Roman Empire and was a leader in European politics until the 19th century; Austria; Oesterreich
Republic of Belarus
- a landlocked republic in eastern Europe; formerly a European soviet; Belarus; Byelarus; Byelorussia; Belorussia; White Russia
Republic of Benin
- a country on western coast of Africa; formerly under French control; Benin; Dahomey
Republic of Bolivia
- a landlocked republic in central South America; Simon Bolivar founded Bolivia in 1825 after winning independence from Spain; Bolivia
n.
- a mountainous republic of south-central Europe; formerly part of the Ottoman Empire and then a part of Yugoslavia; voted for independence in 1992 but the mostly Serbian army of Yugoslavia refused to accept the vote and began ethnic cleansing in order to rid Bosnia of its Croats and Muslims; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Bosna i Hercegovina; Bosnia-Herzegovina; Bosnia
Republic of Botswana
- a landlocked republic in south-central Africa that became independent from British control in the 1960s; Botswana
Republic of Bulgaria
- a republic in the eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula in southeastern Europe; Bulgaria
Republic of Burundi
- a landlocked republic in east central Africa on the northeastern shore of Lake Tanganyika; Burundi
Republic of Cameroon
- a republic on the western coast of central Africa; was under French and British control until 1960; Cameroon; Cameroun
Republic of Cape Verde
- an island country in the Atlantic off the coast of Senegal; Cape Verde
Republic of Chad
- a landlocked desert republic in north-central Africa; was under French control until 1960; Chad; Tchad
Republic of Chile
- a republic in southern South America on the western slopes of the Andes on the south Pacific coast; Chile
Republic of China
- a government on the island of Taiwan established in 1949 by Chiang Kai-shek after the conquest of mainland China by the Communists led by Mao Zedong; Taiwan; China; Nationalist China
Republic of Colombia
- a republic in northwestern South America with a coastline on the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea; achieved independence from Spain in 1821 under the leadership of Simon Bolivar; Spanish is the official language; Colombia
Republic of Costa Rica
- a republic in Central America; one of the most politically stable countries in Latin America; Costa Rica
Republic of Cote d'Ivoire
- a republic in western Africa on the Gulf of Guinea; one of the most prosperous and politically stable countries in Africa; Ivory Coast; Cote d'Ivoire
Republic of Croatia
- a republic in the western Balkans in south-central Europe in the eastern Adriatic coastal area; formerly part of the Habsburg monarchy and Yugoslavia; became independent in 1991; Croatia; Hrvatska
Republic of Cuba
- a communist state in the Caribbean on the island of Cuba; Cuba
Republic of Cyprus
- a country on the island of Cyprus; 80% of the people are of Greek origin and 20% or Turkish origin; Cyprus
Republic of Djibouti
- a country in northeastern Africa on the Somali peninsula; formerly under French control but became independent in 1997; Djibouti; Afars and Issas
Republic of Ecuador
- a republic in northwestern South America; became independent from Spain in 1822; the landscape is dominated by the Andes; Ecuador
Republic of El Salvador
- a republic on the Pacific coast of Central America; El Salvador; Salvador
Republic of Equatorial Guinea
- a country of west central Africa (including islands in the Gulf of Guinea); became independent from Spain in 1968; Equatorial Guinea; Spanish Guinea
Republic of Estonia
- a republic in northeastern Europe on the Baltic Sea; Estonia; Esthonia
Republic of Fiji
- an independent state within the British Commonwealth located on the Fiji Islands; Fiji
Republic of Finland
- republic in northern Europe; achieved independence from Russia in 1917; Finland; Suomi
Republic of Ghana
- a republic in West Africa on the Gulf of Guinea; Ghana; Gold Coast
Republic of Guatemala
- a republic in Central America; achieved independence from Spain in 1821; noted for low per capita income and illiteracy; politically unstable; Guatemala
Republic of Guinea
- a republic in western Africa on the Atlantic; formerly a French colony; achieved independence from France in 1958; Guinea; French Guinea
Republic of Guinea-Bissau
- a republic on the northwestern coast of Africa; recognized as independent by Portugal in 1974; Guinea-Bissau; Guine-Bissau; Portuguese Guinea
Republic of Haiti
- a republic in the West Indies on the western part of the island of Hispaniola; achieved independence from France in 1804; the poorest and most illiterate nation in the western hemisphere; Haiti
Republic of Honduras
- a republic in Central America; achieved independence from Spain in 1821; an early center of Mayan culture; Honduras
Republic of Hungary
- a republic in central Europe; Hungary; Magyarorszag
Republic of Iceland
- an island republic on the island of Iceland; became independent of Denmark in 1944; Iceland
Republic of India
- a republic in the Asian subcontinent in southern Asia; second most populous country in the world; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1947; India; Bharat
Republic of Indonesia
- a republic in southeastern Asia on an archipelago including more than 13,000 islands; achieved independence from the Netherlands in 1945; the principal oil producer in the Far East and Pacific regions; Indonesia; Dutch East Indies
Republic of Iraq
- a republic in the Middle East in western Asia; the ancient civilization of Mesopotamia was in the area now known as Iraq; Iraq; Al-Iraq; Irak
Republic of Ireland
- a republic consisting of 26 of 32 counties comprising the island of Ireland; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1921; Ireland; Irish Republic; Eire
Republic of Kazakhstan
- a landlocked republic to the south of Russia and to the northeast of the Caspian Sea; the original Turkic-speaking inhabitants were overrun by Mongols in the 13th century; an Asian soviet from 1936 to 1991; Kazakhstan; Kazakstan; Kazakh; Kazak
Republic of Kenya
- a republic in eastern Africa; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1963; major archeological discoveries have been made in the Great Rift Valley in Kenya; Kenya
Republic of Kiribati
- an island republic in the west central Pacific just to the south of the equator; Kiribati
Republic of Korea
- a republic in the southern half of the Korean Peninsula; established in 1948; South Korea
Republic of Latvia
- a republic in northeastern Europe on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea; Latvia
Republic of Liberia
- a republic in West Africa; established in 1822 by Americans as a way to free negro slaves; Liberia
Republic of Lithuania
- a republic in northeastern Europe on the Baltic Sea; Lithuania; Lietuva
Republic of Madagascar
- a republic on the island of Madagascar; achieved independence from France in 1960; Madagascar; Malagasy Republic
Republic of Malawi
- a landlocked republic in southern central Africa; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1964; Malawi; Nyasaland
Republic of Maldives
- a republic on the Maldive Islands; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1965; Maldives
Republic of Mali
- a landlocked republic in northwestern Africa; achieved independence from France in 1960; Mali was a center of West African civilization for more than 4,000 years; Mali; French Sudan
Republic of Malta
- a republic on the island of Malta in the Mediterranean; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1964; Malta
Republic of Mauritius
- a parliamentary state on the island of Mauritius; Mauritius
Republic of Moldova
- a landlocked republic in eastern Europe; formerly a European soviet but achieved independence in 1991; Moldova; Moldavia
Republic of Mozambique
- a republic on the southeastern coast of Africa on the Mozambique Channel; became independent from Portugal in 1975; Mozambique; Mocambique
Republic of Namibia
- a republic in southwestern Africa on the south Atlantic coast (formerly called South West Africa); achieved independence from South Africa in 1990; the greater part of Namibia forms part of the high Namibian plateau of South Africa; Namibia; South West Africa
Republic of Nauru
- an island republic on Nauru Island; phosphate exports support the economy; Nauru
Republic of Nicaragua
- a republic in Central America; achieved independence from Spain in 1821; Nicaragua
Republic of Niger
- a landlocked republic in West Africa; gained independence from France in 1960; most of the country is dominated by the Sahara Desert; Niger
Republic of Palau
- a republic in the western central Pacific Ocean in association with the United States; Palau; TT
Republic of Panama
- a republic on the Isthmus of Panama; achieved independence from Colombia in 1903; Panama
Republic of Paraguay
- a landlocked republic in south central South America; achieved independence from Spain in 1811; Paraguay
Republic of Peru
- a republic in western South America; achieved independence from Spain in 1821; was the heart of the Inca empire from the 12th to 16th centuries; Peru
Republic of Poland
- a republic in central Europe; the invasion of Poland by Germany in 1939 started World War II; Poland; Polska
Republic of San Marino
- the smallest republic in the world; the oldest independent country in Europe (achieved independence in 301); located in the Apennines and completely surrounded by Italy; San Marino
Republic of Senegal
- a republic in northwestern Africa on the coast of the Atlantic; formerly a French colony but achieved independence in 1960; Senegal
Republic of Seychelles
- a republic on the Seychelles islands; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1976; Seychelles
Republic of Sierra Leone
- a republic in West Africa; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1961; Sierra Leone
Republic of Singapore
- a country in southeastern Asia on the island of Singapore; achieved independence from Malaysia in 1965; Singapore
Republic of Slovenia
- a mountainous republic in central Europe; formerly part of the Habsburg monarchy and Yugoslavia; achieved independence in 1991; Slovenia; Slovenija
Republic of South Africa
- a republic at the southernmost part of Africa; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1910; first European settlers were Dutch (known as Boers); South Africa
Republic of Suriname
- a republic in northeastern South America on the Atlantic; achieved independence from the Netherlands in 1975; Suriname; Surinam; Dutch Guiana; Netherlands Guiana
Republic of Tajikistan
- a landlocked mountainous republic in southeast central Asia to the north of Afghanistan; formerly an Asian soviet; Tajikistan; Tadzhikistan; Tadzhik; Tadjik; Tajik
Republic of The Gambia
- a narrow republic surrounded by Senegal in West Africa; Gambia; The Gambia
n.
- an island republic in the West Indies off the northeastern coast of Venezuela; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1962; Trinidad and Tobago
Republic of Tunisia
- a republic in northwestern Africa on the Mediterranean coast; achieved independence from France in 1956; Tunisia
Republic of Turkey
- a Eurasian republic in Asia Minor and the Balkans; on the collapse of the Ottoman Empire in 1918, the Young Turks, led by Kemal Ataturk, established a republic in 1923; Turkey
Republic of Uganda
- a landlocked republic in eastern Africa; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1962; Uganda
Republic of Uzbekistan
- a landlocked republic in west central Asia; formerly an Asian soviet; Uzbekistan; Uzbek
Republic of Vanuatu
- a volcanic island republic in Melanesia; independent since 1980; Vanuatu; New Hebrides
Republic of Venezuela
- a republic in northern South America on the Caribbean; achieved independence from Spain in 1811; rich in oil; Venezuela
Republic of Yemen
- a republic on the southwestern shores of the Arabian Peninsula on the Indian Ocean; formed in 1990; Yemen
Republic of Zambia
- a republic in central Africa; formerly controlled by Great Britain and called Northern Rhodesia until it gained independence within the commonwealth in 1964; Zambia; Northern Rhodesia
Republic of Zimbabwe
- a landlocked republic in south central Africa formerly called Rhodesia; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1980; Zimbabwe; Rhodesia; Southern Rhodesia
n.
- a republic in west-central Africa; achieved independence from France in 1960; Congo; French Congo
n.
- a republic (under United States protection) on the Marshall Islands; Marshall Islands
n.
- a republic on the Philippine Islands; achieved independence from the United States in 1946; Philippines
n.
- a republic in northeastern Africa on the Red Sea; achieved independence from Egypt and the United Kingdom in 1956; Sudan; Soudan
Resurrection of Christ
- (New Testament) the rising of Christ on the third day after the Crucifixion; Resurrection; Christ's Resurrection
n.
- the last book of the New Testament; contains visionary descriptions of heaven and of conflicts between good and evil and of the end of the world; attributed to Saint John the Apostle; Revelation; Apocalypse; Book of Revelation
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia
- a powerful and wealthy terrorist organization formed in 1957 as the guerilla arm of the Colombian communist party; opposed to the United States; has strong ties to drug dealers; Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarios de Colombia; FARC
Revolutionary Organization of Socialist Muslims
- a Palestinian international terrorist organization that split from the PLO in 1974; has conducted terrorist attacks in 20 countries; Fatah Revolutionary Council; Fatah-RC; Abu Nidal Organization; ANO; Arab Revolutionary Brigades; Black September
Robert 's Rules of Order
- a book of rules for presiding over a meeting; written by Henry M. Martin in 1876 and subsequently updated through many editions
Rock of Gibraltar
- location of a colony of the United Kingdom on a limestone promontory at the southern tip of Spain; strategically important because it can control the entrance of ships into the Mediterranean; one of the Pillars of Hercules; Gibraltar; Calpe
Rose of China
- large showy Asiatic shrub or small tree having large single or double red to deep-red flowers; China rose; Chinese hibiscus; shoeblack plant; shoe black; Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
Royal Academy of Arts
- an honorary academy in London (founded in 1768) intended to cultivate painting and sculpture and architecture in Britain; Royal Academy
n.
- an honorary English society (formalized in 1660 and given a royal charter by Charles II in 1662) through which the British government has supported science; Royal Society
Saint Francis of Assisi
- (Roman Catholic Church) an Italian and the Roman Catholic monk who founded the Franciscan order of friars (1181-1226); Francis of Assisi; St. Francis of Assisi; Saint Francis; St. Francis; Giovanni di Bernardone
Saint Ignatius of Loyola
- Spaniard and Roman Catholic theologian and founder of the Society of Jesus; a leading opponent of the Reformation (1491-1556); Ignatius of Loyola; St. Ignatius of Loyola; Loyola
Saint Teresa of Avila
- Spanish mystic and religious reformer; author of religious classics and a Christian saint (1515-1582); Teresa of Avila
Saul of Tarsus
- (New Testament) a Christian missionary to the Gentiles; author of several Epistles in the New Testament; even though Paul was not present at the Last Supper he is considered an Apostle; Paul; Saint Paul; St. Paul; Apostle Paul; Paul the Apostle; Apostle of the Gentiles; Saul
Scourge of God
- king of the Huns; the most successful barbarian invader of the Roman Empire (406-453); Attila; Attila the Hun; Scourge of the Gods
n.
- king of the Huns; the most successful barbarian invader of the Roman Empire (406-453); Attila; Attila the Hun; Scourge of God
Sea of Azof
- a bay of the Black Sea between Russia and the Ukraine; Sea of Azov; Sea of Azoff
Sea of Azoff
- a bay of the Black Sea between Russia and the Ukraine; Sea of Azov; Sea of Azof
Sea of Azov
- a bay of the Black Sea between Russia and the Ukraine; Sea of Azof; Sea of Azoff
Sea of Cortes
- a gulf to the west of the mainland of Mexico; Gulf of California
Sea of Japan
- an arm of the Pacific between China and Japan; East Sea
Sea of Marmara
- an inland sea in northwestern Turkey; linked to the Black Sea by the Bosporus and linked to the Aegean by the Dardanelles; Marmara; Marmara Denizi; Marmora; Sea of Marmora
Sea of Marmora
- an inland sea in northwestern Turkey; linked to the Black Sea by the Bosporus and linked to the Aegean by the Dardanelles; Marmara; Sea of Marmara; Marmara Denizi; Marmora
Sea of Okhotsk
- an arm of the Pacific to the east of Asia
Second Coming of Christ
- (Christian theology) the reappearance of Jesus as judge for the Last Judgment; Second Coming; Second Advent; Advent; Parousia
Second Council of Constantinople
- the fifth ecumenical council in 553 which held Origen's writings to be heretic; Constantinople
Second Council of Lyons
- the council in 1274 that effected a temporary reunion of the Greek Orthodox with the Roman Catholic Church; Lyons
Second Council of Nicaea
- the seventh ecumenical council in 787 which refuted iconoclasm and regulated the veneration of holy images; Nicaea
Second Earl of Chatham
- English statesman and son of Pitt the Elder (1759-1806); Pitt; William Pitt; Pitt the Younger
Second Earl of Guilford
- British statesman under George III whose policies led to rebellion in the American colonies (1732-1792); North; Frederick North
Second Epistel of John
- the second New Testament epistle traditionally attributed to Saint John the Apostle; II John
n.
- a New Testament book containing Saint Paul's second epistle to Timothy; contains advice on pastoral matters; Second Epistle to Timothy; II Timothy
n.
- a New Testament book containing the second epistle from Saint Paul to the church at Corinth; Second Epistle to the Corinthians; II Corinthians
n.
- a New Testament book containing Saint Paul's second epistle to the Thessalonians; Second Epistle to the Thessalonians; II Thessalonians
Second Epistle of Peter
- the second New Testament book traditionally attributed to Saint Peter the Apostle; II Peter
Second Marquis of Rockingham
- English statesman who served as prime minister and who opposed the war with the American colonies (1730-1782); Rockingham; Charles Watson-Wentworth
Secretary of Agriculture
- the person who holds the secretaryship of the Department of Agriculture; Agriculture Secretary
- the position of the head of the Department of Agriculture; Agriculture Secretary
Secretary of Commerce
- the person who holds the secretaryship of the Department of Commerce; Commerce Secretary
- the position of the head of the Department of Commerce; Commerce Secretary
n.
- head of a former executive department created in 1903 and divided into two departments in 1913
Secretary of Defense
- the person who holds the secretaryship of the Defense Department; Defense Secretary
- the position of the head of the Department of Defense; Defense Secretary
Secretary of Education
- the person who holds the secretaryship of the Department of Education; Education Secretary
- the position of the head of the Education Department; Education Secretary
Secretary of Energy
- the person who holds the secretaryship of the Department of Energy; Energy Secretary
- the position of the head of the Department of Energy; Energy Secretary
n.
- head of a former executive department created in 1953 and divided into two departments in 1979
n.
- the person who holds the secretaryship of the Department of Health and Human Services
- the position of the head of the Department of Health and Human Services
n.
- the person who holds the secretaryship of the Department of Housing and Urban Development
- the position of the head of the Department of Housing and Urban Development
Secretary of Labor
- the person who holds the secretaryship of the Department of Labor; Labor Secretary
- the position of the head of the Department of Labor; Labor Secretary
Secretary of State
- the person who holds the secretaryship of the Department of State
- the position of the head of the State Department
n.
- the British cabinet minister who is head of the Home Office; Home Secretary
Secretary of Transportation
- the person who holds the secretaryship of the Department of Transportation; Transportation Secretary
- the position of the head of the Department of Transportation; Transportation Secretary
Secretary of Veterans Affairs
- the person who holds the secretaryship of the Department of Veterans Affairs
- the position of the head of the Department of Veterans Affairs
Secretary of War
- head of a former executive department; combined with the Navy Secretary to form the Defense Secretary in 1947; War Secretary
n.
- the position of the head of the Department of the Interior; Interior Secretary
- the person who holds the secretaryship of the Interior Department; Interior Secretary
n.
- head of a former executive department; combined with the War Secretary to form the Defense Secretary in 1947; Navy Secretary
n.
- the person who holds the secretaryship of the Treasury Department; Treasury Secretary
- the position of the head of the Treasury Department; Treasury Secretary
Seven Hills of Rome
- the hills on which the ancient city of Rome was built
n.
- impressive monuments created in the ancient world that were regarded with awe; Seven Wonders of the World
n.
- impressive monuments created in the ancient world that were regarded with awe; Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
Shah of Iran
- title for the former hereditary monarch of Iran; Shah
Shield of David
- a six-pointed star formed from two equilateral triangles; an emblem symbolizing Judaism; Star of David; Magen David; Mogen David; Solomon's seal
Sixth Baron Byron of Rochdale
- English romantic poet notorious for his rebellious and unconventional lifestyle (1788-1824); Byron; Lord George Gordon Byron
Socialist Republic of Vietnam
- a communist state in Indochina on the South China Sea; achieved independence from France in 1945; Vietnam; Viet Nam; Annam
Society of Friends
- a Christian sect founded by George Fox about 1660; commonly called Quakers; Religious Society of Friends; Quakers
Society of Jesus
- a Roman Catholic order founded by Saint Ignatius of Loyola in 1534 to defend Catholicism against the Reformation and to do missionary work among the heathen; it is strongly committed to education and scholarship; Jesuit order
Soldiers of God
- an Islamic extremist group of Kurds who oppose secular control with bombings and assassinations; believed to have ties with al-Qaeda; Jund-ul-Islam
Solemnity of Mary
- (Roman Catholic Church) a holy day of obligation; January 1
Song of Solomon
- an Old Testament book consisting of a collection of love poems traditionally attributed to Solomon but actually written much later; Song of Songs; Canticle of Canticles; Canticles
Song of Songs
- an Old Testament book consisting of a collection of love poems traditionally attributed to Solomon but actually written much later; Song of Solomon; Canticle of Canticles; Canticles
South of Houston
- a district in southwestern Manhattan noted for its shops and restaurants and galleries and artist's lofts; SoHo
St. Francis of Assisi
- (Roman Catholic Church) an Italian and the Roman Catholic monk who founded the Franciscan order of friars (1181-1226); Francis of Assisi; Saint Francis of Assisi; Saint Francis; St. Francis; Giovanni di Bernardone
St. Gregory of Nazianzen
- (Roman Catholic Church) a church father known for his constant fight against perceived heresies; a saint and Doctor of the Church (329-391); Gregory; Gregory Nazianzen; Gregory of Nazianzen
St. Ignatius of Loyola
- Spaniard and Roman Catholic theologian and founder of the Society of Jesus; a leading opponent of the Reformation (1491-1556); Ignatius of Loyola; Saint Ignatius of Loyola; Loyola
St. Mary of Bethlehem
- port city in northern Brazil in the Amazon delta; main port and commercial center for the Amazon River basin; Belem; Para; Feliz Lusitania; Santa Maria de Belem
Star of David
- a six-pointed star formed from two equilateral triangles; an emblem symbolizing Judaism; Shield of David; Magen David; Mogen David; Solomon's seal
State of Bahrain
- an island country in the Persian Gulf off the coast of Saudi Arabia; oil revenues funded progressive programs until reserves were exhausted in 1970s; Bahrain; Bahrein
State of Eritrea
- an African country to the north of Ethiopia on the Red Sea; achieved independence from Ethiopia in 1993; Eritrea
State of Israel
- Jewish republic in southwestern Asia at eastern end of Mediterranean; formerly part of Palestine; Israel; Yisrael; Zion; Sion
State of Katar
- an Arab country on the peninsula of Qatar; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1971; the economy is dominated by oil; Qatar; State of Qatar; Katar
State of Kuwait
- an Arab kingdom in Asia on the northwestern coast of the Persian Gulf; a major source of petroleum; Kuwait; Koweit
State of Qatar
- an Arab country on the peninsula of Qatar; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1971; the economy is dominated by oil; Qatar; Katar; State of Katar
n.
- the smallest sovereign state in the world; the see of the Pope (as the Bishop of Rome); home of the Pope and the central administration of the Roman Catholic Church; achieved independence from Italy in 1929; Holy See; The Holy See
n.
- (Roman Catholic Church) a devotion consisting of fourteen prayers said before a series of fourteen pictures or carvings representing successive incidents during Jesus' passage from Pilate's house to his crucifixion at Calvary; Stations
Statue of Liberty
- a large monumental statue symbolizing liberty on Liberty Island in New York Bay
Strait of Calais
- the strait between the English Channel and the North Sea; shortest distance between England and the European continent; Strait of Dover; Pas de Calais
Strait of Dover
- the strait between the English Channel and the North Sea; shortest distance between England and the European continent; Strait of Calais; Pas de Calais
Strait of Georgia
- the strait separating Vancouver Island from the Canadian mainland
Strait of Gibraltar
- the strait between Spain and Africa
Strait of Hormuz
- a strategically important strait linking the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman; Strait of Ormuz
Strait of Magellan
- the strait separating South America from Tierra del Fuego and other islands to the south of the continent; discovered by Ferdinand Magellan in 1520; an important route around South America before the Panama Canal was built
Strait of Messina
- the strait separating Sicily from the tip of Italy
Strait of Ormuz
- a strategically important strait linking the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman; Strait of Hormuz
Sultan of Swat
- United States professional baseball player famous for hitting home runs (1895-1948); Ruth; Babe Ruth; George Herman Ruth
Sultanate of Oman
- a strategically located monarchy on the southern and eastern coasts of the Arabian Peninsula; the economy is dominated by oil; Oman; Muscat and Oman
Supporters of Islam
- a radical Islamic group of terrorists in the Iraqi part of Kurdistan who oppose an independent secular nation as advocated by the United States; some members fought with the Taliban and al-Qaeda forces in Afghanistan; said to receive financial support from Saddam Hussein; Ansar al Islam; Ansar al-Islam
n.
- the highest federal court in the United States; has final appellate jurisdiction and has jurisdiction over all other courts in the nation; Supreme Court; United States Supreme Court
n.
- a man raised by apes who was the hero of a series of novels by Edgar Rice Burroughs; Tarzan
Temple of Apollo
- (Greek mythology) the oracle at Delphi where a priestess supposedly delivered messages from Apollo to those who sought advice; the messages were usually obscure or ambiguous; Oracle of Apollo; Delphic oracle; oracle of Delphi
Temple of Artemis
- a large temple at Ephesus that was said to be one of the seven wonders of the ancient world
Temple of Jerusalem
- any of three successive temples in Jerusalem that served as the primary center for Jewish worship; the first temple contained the Ark of the Covenant and was built by Solomon in the 10th century BC and destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar in 586 BC; the second was built in 515 BC and the third was an enlargement by Herod the Great in 20 BC that was destroyed by the Romans during a Jewish revolt in AD 70; all that remains is the Wailing Wall; Temple of Solomon
Temple of Solomon
- any of three successive temples in Jerusalem that served as the primary center for Jewish worship; the first temple contained the Ark of the Covenant and was built by Solomon in the 10th century BC and destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar in 586 BC; the second was built in 515 BC and the third was an enlargement by Herod the Great in 20 BC that was destroyed by the Romans during a Jewish revolt in AD 70; all that remains is the Wailing Wall; Temple of Jerusalem
Teresa of Avila
- Spanish mystic and religious reformer; author of religious classics and a Christian saint (1515-1582); Saint Teresa of Avila
Thales of Miletus
- a presocratic Greek philosopher and astronomer (who predicted an eclipse in 585 BC) who was said by Aristotle to be the founder of physical science; he held that all things originated in water (624-546 BC); Thales
Third Council of Constantinople
- the sixth ecumenical council in 680-681 which condemned Monothelitism by defining two wills in Christ, divine and human; Constantinople
Third Epistel of John
- the third New Testament epistle traditionally attributed to Saint John the Apostle; III John
Tower of Babel
- (Genesis 11:1-11) a tower built by Noah's descendants (probably in Babylon) who intended it to reach up to heaven; God foiled them by confusing their language so they could no longer understand one another; Babel
Tower of London
- a fortress in London on the Thames; used as a palace and a state prison and now as a museum containing the crown jewels
Tower of Pharos
- a great lighthouse (500 feet high) built at Alexandria in 285 BC
Transfiguration of Jesus
- (New Testament) the sudden emanation of radiance from the person of Jesus; Transfiguration
Treaty of Versailles
- the treaty imposed on Germany by the Allied powers in 1920 after the end of World War I which demanded exorbitant reparations from the Germans
Tribes of Israel
- twelve kin groups of ancient Israel each traditionally descended from one of the twelve sons of Jacob; Twelve Tribes of Israel
Tropic of Cancer
- a line of latitude about 23 degrees to the north of the equator
Tropic of Capricorn
- a line of latitude about 23 degrees to the south of the equator
Twelve Tribes of Israel
- twelve kin groups of ancient Israel each traditionally descended from one of the twelve sons of Jacob; Tribes of Israel
n.
- myth about the ultimate destruction of the gods in a battle with evil; Gotterdammerung; Ragnarok
U.S. House of Representatives
- the lower legislative house of the United States Congress; United States House of Representatives; US House of Representatives; House of Representatives; U.S. House; US House
U.S. National Library of Medicine
- the world's largest medical library; National Library of Medicine; United States National Library of Medicine
US House of Representatives
- the lower legislative house of the United States Congress; United States House of Representatives; U.S. House of Representatives; House of Representatives; U.S. House; US House
Union of Burma
- a mountainous republic in southeastern Asia on the Bay of Bengal; Myanmar; Burma
n.
- a mountainous republic in southeastern Europe bordering on the Adriatic Sea; formed from two of the six republics that made up Yugoslavia until 1992; Serbia and Montenegro were known as the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia until 2003 when they adopted the name of the Union of Serbia and Montenegro; Serbia and Montenegro; Yugoslavia; Federal Republic of Yugoslavia; Jugoslavija
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
- a former communist country in eastern Europe and northern Asia; established in 1922; included Russia and 14 other soviet socialist republics (Ukraine and Byelorussia and others); officially dissolved 31 December 1991; Soviet Union; Russia; USSR
United Church of Christ
- merger of the Congregational Christian Church and the Evangelical and Reformed Church in 1957
n.
- a monarchy in northwestern Europe occupying most of the British Isles; divided into England and Scotland and Wales and Northern Ireland; `Great Britain' is often used loosely to refer to the United Kingdom; United Kingdom; UK; U.K.; Britain; Great Britain
United Mine Workers of America
- an industrial union of mine workers in North America; United Mine Workers
United Republic of Tanzania
- a republic in eastern Africa; Tanzania
United Self-Defense Force of Colombia
- a terrorist organization in Colombia formed in 1997 as an umbrella for local and regional paramilitary groups; is financed by earnings from narcotics and serves to protect the economic interests of its members; United Self-Defense Group of Colombia; Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia; AUC
United Self-Defense Group of Colombia
- a terrorist organization in Colombia formed in 1997 as an umbrella for local and regional paramilitary groups; is financed by earnings from narcotics and serves to protect the economic interests of its members; United Self-Defense Force of Colombia; Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia; AUC
n.
- a celibate and communistic Christian sect in the United States; Shakers
United States Department of Defense
- the federal department responsible for safeguarding national security of the United States; created in 1947; Department of Defense; Defense Department; Defense; DoD
United States Department of State
- the federal department in the United States that sets and maintains foreign policies; Department of State; State Department; State; DoS
United States House of Representatives
- the lower legislative house of the United States Congress; U.S. House of Representatives; US House of Representatives; House of Representatives; U.S. House; US House
United States National Library of Medicine
- the world's largest medical library; National Library of Medicine; U.S. National Library of Medicine
United States of America
- North American republic containing 50 states - 48 conterminous states in North America plus Alaska in northwest North America and the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean; achieved independence in 1776; United States; America; the States; US; U.S.; USA; U.S.A.
University of Chicago
- a university in Chicago, Illinois
University of Michigan
- a university in Ann Arbor, Michigan
University of Nebraska
- a university in Lincoln, Nebraska
University of North Carolina
- a university in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
University of Paris
- a university in Paris; intellectual center of France; Paris University; Sorbonne
University of Pennsylvania
- a university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Pennsylvania; Penn
University of Pittsburgh
- a university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
University of Sussex
- a red-brick university in Brighton, England; Sussex University
University of Texas
- a university in Austin, Texas
University of Vermont
- a university in Burlington, Vermont
University of Washington
- a university in Seattle, Washington
University of West Virginia
- a university in Morgantown, West Virginia
University of Wisconsin
- a university in Madison, Wisconsin
Vanguards of Conquest
- an Islamic extremist group active since the late 1970s; seeks to overthrow the Egyptian government and replace it with an Islamic state; works in small underground cells; al-Jihad; Egyptian Islamic Jihad; Islamic Jihad
Veterans of Foreign Wars
- an organization of United States war veterans; VFW
Vicar of Christ
- the head of the Roman Catholic Church; pope; Catholic Pope; Roman Catholic Pope; pontiff; Holy Father; Bishop of Rome
n.
- the vice president of the United States who presides over the United States Senate
War of 1812
- a war (1812-1814) between the United States and England which was trying to interfere with American trade with France
War of American Independence
- the revolution of the American Colonies against Great Britain; 1775-1783; American Revolution; American Revolutionary War; American War of Independence
War of Greek Independence
- the Greeks rebelled against Turkish rule in 1821; with the support of England and France and Russia they won independence in 1828 at Navarino (although the country included only half its present size)
n.
- Prussia and Austria fought over Silesia and most of the rest of Europe took sides; 1740-1748
n.
- an aggressive war waged by Louis XIV against Spain and the Holy Roman Empire and England and Holland and other states (1689-1697); War of the League of Augsburg
n.
- an aggressive war waged by Louis XIV against Spain and the Holy Roman Empire and England and Holland and other states (1689-1697); War of the Grand Alliance
n.
- struggle for the English throne (1455-1485) between the house of York (white rose) and the house of Lancaster (red rose) ending with the accession of the Tudor monarch Henry VII; Wars of the Roses
n.
- a general war in Europe (1701-1714) that broke out when Louis XIV installed his grandson on the throne of Spain; England and Holland hoped to limit Louis' power
n.
- struggle for the English throne (1455-1485) between the house of York (white rose) and the house of Lancaster (red rose) ending with the accession of the Tudor monarch Henry VII; War of the Roses
William of Occam
- English scholastic philosopher and assumed author of Occam's Razor (1285-1349); Occam; Ockham; William of Ockham
William of Ockham
- English scholastic philosopher and assumed author of Occam's Razor (1285-1349); Occam; William of Occam; Ockham
William of Orange
- King of England and Scotland and Ireland; he married the daughter of James II and was invited by opponents of James II to invade England; when James fled, William III and Mary II were declared joint monarchs (1650-1702); William III
William of Wykeham
- English prelate and statesman; founded a college at Oxford and Winchester College in Winchester; served as chancellor of England and bishop of Winchester (1324-1404); Wykeham
n.
- an Apocryphal book mainly of maxims (resembling Proverbs in that respect); Ben Sira; Sirach; Ecclesiasticus
Wisdom of Solomon
- an Apocryphal book consisting mainly of a meditation on wisdom; although ascribed to Solomon it was probably written in the first century BC; Wisdom
Word of God
- a manifestation of the mind and will of God
- the sacred writings of the Christian religions; Bible; Christian Bible; Book; Good Book; Holy Scripture; Holy Writ; Scripture; Word
- the message of the Gospel of Christ
World Council of Churches
- an ecumenical organization of Protestant and eastern churches; intended to promote unity and cooperation in religious and secular matters
Zeno of Citium
- ancient Greek philosopher who founded the Stoic school (circa 335-263 BC); Zeno
Zeno of Elea
- ancient Greek philosopher who formulated paradoxes that defended the belief that motion and change are illusory (circa 495-430 BC); Zeno
n.
- (law) the removal or termination or destruction of something that has been found to be a nuisance; nuisance abatement
n.
- a natural and unavoidable catastrophe that interrupts the expected course of events; force majeure; vis major; inevitable accident; unavoidable casualty
n.
- the calculated use of violence (or the threat of violence) against civilians in order to attain goals that are political or religious or ideological in nature; this is done through intimidation or coercion or instilling fear; terrorism; terrorist act
n.
- the minimum age for marrying without parental consent or the minimum age for consensual sexual relations; intercourse at an earlier age can result in a charge of assault or statutory rape; the age differs in different states of the Union
n.
- a tort based on willful and malicious interference with the marriage relation by a third party without justification or excuse
n.
- the alternation of two or more different forms in the life cycle of a plant or animal; heterogenesis; xenogenesis
n.
- a quantity of money; sum; sum of money; amount
- The estimated total amount of money was $20 million.
- Besides, the amount of money he stole is a small amount.
- Ward worked hard and saved every amount of money he could.
n.
- a statistical method for making simultaneous comparisons between two or more means; a statistical method that yields values that can be tested to determine whether a significant relation exists between variables; ANOVA
n.
- the acute angle between the direction of the undisturbed relative wind and the chord of an airfoil
n.
- (physics) the angle that a magnetic needle makes with the plane of the horizon; dip; magnetic dip; magnetic inclination; inclination
n.
- the angle from its axis that a crystal must be rotated before appearing maximally dark when viewed in polarized light; extinction angle
n.
- the angle that a line makes with a line perpendicular to the surface at the point of incidence; incidence angle
n.
- (geometry) the angle formed by the x-axis and a given line (measured counterclockwise from the positive half of the x-axis); inclination
n.
- the angle between a reflected ray and a line perpendicular to the reflecting surface at the point of incidence
n.
- the angle between a refracted ray and a line perpendicular to the surface between the two media at the point of refraction
n.
- a Catholic sacrament; a priest anoints a dying person with oil and prays for salvation; extreme unction; last rites
n.
- the point on the celestial sphere toward which the sun and solar system appear to be moving relative to the fixed stars; apex; solar apex
n.
- coarse South American herb grown for its blue-and-white flowers followed by a bladderlike fruit enclosing a dry berry; shoo fly; Nicandra physaloides
- intensely poisonous tall coarse annual tropical weed having rank-smelling foliage, large white or violet trumpet-shaped flowers and prickly fruits; jimsonweed; jimson weed; Jamestown weed; common thorn apple; Datura stramonium
n.
- (classical mythology) a golden apple thrown into a banquet of the gods by Eris (goddess of discord--who had not been invited); the apple had `for the fairest' written on it and Hera and Athena and Aphrodite all claimed it; when Paris (prince of Troy) awarded it to Aphrodite it began a chain of events that led to the Trojan War
n.
- veins that receive blood from interlobular veins of kidney and rectal venules; vena arcuata renis
n.
- the part of the occipital cortex that receives the fibers of the optic radiation from the lateral geniculate body and is the primary receptive area for vision; striate cortex; striate area; first visual area; Brodmann's area 17
n.
- a triangular area of the front of the chest (determined by percussion); corresponds to the part of the heart not covered by the lungs
n.
- an artery that is a branch of the basilar artery that supplies the labyrinth; labyrinthine artery; internal auditory artery
n.
- a branch of the internal pudendal artery of males that supplies the bulb of the penis; arteria bulbi penis
n.
- a branch of the internal pudendal artery in females that supplies the bulb of the vestibule; arteria bulbi vestibuli
n.
- a covering designed to be worn on a person's body; clothing; vesture; wear; wearable; habiliment
n.
- (Christianity) any of the sections into which a creed or other statement of doctrine is divided; credendum
- an unshakable belief in something without need for proof or evidence; conviction; strong belief
n.
- furnishings that make a room or other area ready for occupancy; furniture; piece of furniture
n.
- a legal document that creates a corporation; it is filed with a state by the founders of a corporation and is governed by the laws of the state
n.
- a system of recording all of a country's economic transactions with the rest of the world over a period of one year; balance of payments
n.
- a system of recording all of a country's economic transactions with the rest of the world over a period of one year; balance of international payments
n.
- the difference in value over a period of time of a country's imports and exports of merchandise; trade balance; visible balance; trade gap
n.
- someone whose career progresses rapidly; go-getter; whizz-kid; whiz-kid
- a highly energetic and indefatigable person; powerhouse; human dynamo; fireball
n.
- medium-sized fir of northeastern North America; leaves smell of balsam when crushed; much used for pulpwood and Christmas trees; balsam fir; Canada balsam; Abies balsamea
- a fragrant oleoresin
n.
- small evergreen tree of Africa and Asia; leaves have a strong aromatic odor when bruised; Commiphora meccanensis
n.
- dark brown syrupy balsam from the Peruvian balsam tree used especially in dressing wounds and treating certain skin diseases
n.
- aromatic yellowish brown balsam from the tolu balsam tree used especially in cough syrups; tolu; tolu balsam
n.
- natural family planning in which the fertile period of the woman's menstrual cycle is inferred by noting the rise in basal body temperature that typically occurs with ovulation; basal body temperature method
n.
- a siege in which Federal troops under Sherman cut off the railroads supplying the city and then burned it; 1864; Atlanta
n.
- a decisive battle during the Napoleonic campaigns (1805); the French under Napoleon defeated the Russian armies of Czar Alexander I and the Austrian armies of Emperor Francis II; Austerlitz
n.
- a battle in the War of the Grand Alliance in Ireland in 1690; William III defeated the deposed James II and so ended the Catholicism that had been reintroduced in England by the Stuarts; Boyne
n.
- the first important battle of the American War of Independence (1775) which was fought at Breed's Hill; the British defeated the colonial forces; Bunker Hill
n.
- battle of World War I (1917); Italians were defeated by the Austrian and German forces; Caporetto
n.
- in the American Civil War (1863) the Union armies of Hooker, Thomas, and Sherman under the command of Ulysses S. Grant won a decisive victory over the Confederate Army under Braxton Bragg; Chattanooga
n.
- a Confederate victory in the American Civil War (1863); Confederate forces under Braxton Bragg defeated Union forces; Chickamauga
n.
- battle in the American Revolution; Americans under Daniel Morgan defeated the British; Cowpens
n.
- the first decisive battle of the Hundred Years' War; in 1346 the English under Edward III defeated the French under Philip of Valois; Crecy
n.
- battle in 401 BC when the Artaxerxes II defeated his younger brother who tried to usurp the throne; Cunaxa
n.
- the battle that ended the second Macedonian War (197 BC); the Romans defeated Philip V who lost his control of Greece; Cynoscephalae
n.
- the decisive battle in which William the Conqueror (duke of Normandy) defeated the Saxons under Harold II (1066) and thus left England open for the Norman Conquest; Hastings
n.
- a battle during the Napoleonic Wars (1800); the French defeated the Austrians; Hohenlinden
n.
- a battle between the successors of Alexander the Great (301 BC); Lysimachus and Seleucus defeated Antigonus and Demetrius; Ipsus
n.
- a battle (333 BC) in which Alexander the Great defeated the Persians under Darius III; Issus
n.
- a battle (1590) in which the Huguenots under Henry IV defeated the Catholics under the duke of Mayenne; Ivry; Ivry la Bataille
n.
- an indecisive naval battle in World War I (1916); fought between the British and German fleets off the northwestern coast of Denmark; Jutland
n.
- (1568) Catholic forces supporting Mary Queen of Scots were routed by Protestants; Langside
n.
- Thebes defeated Sparta in 371 BC; the battle ended Sparta's military supremacy in Greece; Leuctra
n.
- the principal battle of the Balkan Wars (1912); Bulgarian forces defeated the Turks; Lule Burgas
n.
- a battle in the Thirty Years' War (1632); Swedes under Gustavus Adolphus defeated the Holy Roman Empire under Wallenstein; Gustavus Adolphus was killed; Lutzen
n.
- a battle in 490 BC in which the Athenians and their allies defeated the Persians; Marathon
n.
- a battle in 1644 in which the Parliamentarians under the earl of Manchester defeated the Royalists under Prince Rupert; Marston Moor
n.
- a battle in the Seven Years' War (1759) in which the English forces and their allies defeated the French; Minden
n.
- a decisive naval battle in the War of Greek Independence (1827); the Turkish and Egyptian fleet was defeated by an allied fleet of British and French and Russian warships; Navarino
n.
- a battle (1898) in which an English and Egyptian army under Kitchener defeated the Sudanese; Omdurman
n.
- battle in which the ruler of Afghanistan defeated the Mahrattas in 1761; Panipat
n.
- the second great battle of the American Civil War (1862); the battle ended with the withdrawal of Confederate troops but it was not a Union victory; Shiloh; battle of Shiloh
n.
- the victory in 1757 by the British under Clive over Siraj-ud-daula that established British supremacy over Bengal; Plassey
n.
- the battle in 1356 in which the English under the Black Prince defeated the French; Poitiers
n.
- a battle in the Seven Years' War (1757); Prussian forces under Frederick the Great defeated the armies of France and Austria; Rossbach
n.
- a battle during the American Revolution (1777); the British under Burgoyne were defeated; Saratoga
n.
- the Swiss Confederation escaped Hapsburg domination by their victory in 1386; Sempatch
n.
- the second great battle of the American Civil War (1862); the battle ended with the withdrawal of Confederate troops but it was not a Union victory; Shiloh; battle of Pittsburgh Landing
n.
- a battle in World War I (May 1918); the Germans tried to attack before the American numbers were too great to defeat; the tactical success of the Germans proved to be a strategic failure; Soissons; battle of the Chemin-des-Dames; battle of the Aisne
n.
- an indecisive battle in 1859 between the French and Sardinians under Napoleon III and the Austrians under Francis Joseph I; Solferino
n.
- a battle between the armies of Grant and Lee during the Wilderness Campaign; Spotsylvania
n.
- a battle in the Meuse-Argonne operation in World War I (1918); the battle in which American troops launched their first offensive in France; Saint-Mihiel; St Mihiel
n.
- a battle in World War I (1914); decisive German victory over the Russians; Tannenberg
n.
- a battle in 9 AD in which the Germans under Arminius annihilated three Roman Legions; Teutoburger Wald
n.
- the final battle of the War of the Roses in 1471 in which Edward IV defeated the Lancastrians; Tewkesbury
n.
- a famous battle in 480 BC; a Greek army under Leonidas was annihilated by the Persians who were trying to conquer Greece; Thermopylae
n.
- a naval battle in 1805 off the southwest coast of Spain; the French and Spanish fleets were defeated by the English under Nelson (who was mortally wounded); Trafalgar
n.
- a battle in central Italy where Hannibal defeated the Romans under Flaminius in 217 BC; Trasimeno
n.
- the French defeated the Austrian and Prussian troops in 1792 (with a famous cannonade from the French artillery); Valmy
n.
- a battle in World War I (1916); in some of the bloodiest fighting in World War I the German offensive was stopped; Verdun
n.
- a battle in the Napoleonic campaigns (1809); Napoleon defeated the Austrians; Wagram
n.
- battle in World War I (1917); an Allied offensive which eventually failed because tanks bogged down in the waterlogged soil of Flanders; Germans introduced mustard gas which interfered with the Allied artillery; Ypres; third battle of Ypres
- battle in World War I (1915); Germans wanted to try chlorine (a toxic yellow gas) as a weapon and succeeded in taking considerable territory from the Allied salient; Ypres; second battle of Ypres
- battle in World War I (1914); heavy but indecisive fighting as the Allies and the Germans both tried to break through the lines of the others; Ypres; first battle of Ypres
n.
- the battle in 202 BC in which Scipio decisively defeated Hannibal at the end of the second Punic War; Zama
n.
- a battle in World War I (May 1918); the Germans tried to attack before the American numbers were too great to defeat; the tactical success of the Germans proved to be a strategic failure; Soissons; battle of Soissons-Reims; battle of the Chemin-des-Dames
n.
- a naval battle in World War II; Allied land-based bombers destroyed a Japanese convoy in the Bismarck Sea in March 1943; Bismarck Sea
n.
- a battle in World War I (May 1918); the Germans tried to attack before the American numbers were too great to defeat; the tactical success of the Germans proved to be a strategic failure; Soissons; battle of Soissons-Reims; battle of the Aisne
n.
- a Japanese defeat in World War II (May 1942); the first naval battle fought entirely by planes based on aircraft carriers; Coral Sea
n.
- a naval battle in World War II (1944); a decisive naval victory for the United States fleet over the Japanese who were trying to block supplies from reaching American troops on Leyte; Philippine Sea