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aquarium

(Encyclopedia) aquarium, name for any supervised exhibit of aquatic animals and plants. Aquariums are known to have been constructed in ancient Rome, Egypt, and Asia. Goldfish have been bred in China…

Shawnee, indigenous people of North America

(Encyclopedia) ShawneeShawneeshôˌnēˈ [key] or ShawanoShawneeshôˈwənō [key], Native North Americans whose language belongs to the Algonquian branch of the Algonquian-Wakashan linguistic stock (see…

Burnside, Ambrose Everett

(Encyclopedia) Burnside, Ambrose Everett, 1824–81, Union general in the U.S. Civil War, b. Liberty, Ind. He saw brief service in the Mexican War and remained in the army until 1853, when he entered…

Winfrey, Oprah

(Encyclopedia) Winfrey, Oprah, 1954–, African-American television host, actress, and media magnate, b. Kosciusko, Miss., as Orpah Gail Winfrey, grad. Tennessee State Univ. (1976). She began her…

Polk, James Knox

(Encyclopedia) Polk, James KnoxPolk, James Knoxpōk [key], 1795–1849, 11th President of the United States (1845–49), b. Mecklenburg co., N.C. To the surprise of many, the new President proved to be…

Mobile, city, United States

(Encyclopedia) MobileMobilemōbēlˈ, mōˈbēlˌ [key], city (1990 pop. 196,278), seat of Mobile co., SW Ala., at the head of Mobile Bay and at the mouth of the Mobile River; inc. 1814. Lying on one of the…

De Soto, Hernando

(Encyclopedia) De Soto, HernandoDe Soto, Hernandodĭsōˈtō, Span. ĕrnänˈdō dā sōˈtō [key], c.1500–1542, Spanish explorer. After serving under Pedro Arias de Ávila in Central America and under Francisco…

Sevier, John

(Encyclopedia) Sevier, JohnSevier, Johnsəvērˈ [key], 1745–1815, American frontiersman and political leader. He was born near the site of New Market, Va., the town he founded in his young manhood. In…

plow

(Encyclopedia) plow or plough, agricultural implement used to cut furrows in and turn up the soil, preparing it for planting. The plow is generally considered the most important tillage tool. Its…

public ownership

(Encyclopedia) public ownership, government ownership of lands, streets, public buildings, utilities, and other business enterprises. The theory that all land and its resources belong ultimately to…