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axiom

(Encyclopedia)axiom, in mathematics and logic, general statement accepted without proof as the basis for logically deducing other statements (theorems). Examples of axioms used widely in mathematics are those relat...

Bukharin, Nikolai Ivanovich

(Encyclopedia)Bukharin, Nikolai Ivanovich nyĭkəlīˈ ēväˈnəvĭch bo͞okhäˈrēn [key], 1888–1938, Russian Communist leader and theoretician. A member of the Bolshevik wing of the Social Democratic party, h...

White, Andrew Dickson

(Encyclopedia)White, Andrew Dickson, 1832–1918, American educator and diplomat, b. Homer, N.Y., briefly attended Geneva (now Hobart) College, grad. Yale, 1853. He studied in France and Germany, served (1854–55)...

Botha, Pieter Willem

(Encyclopedia)Botha, Pieter Willem pēˈtər vĭlˈəm bōˈtə [key], 1916–2006, South African political leader. An Afrikaner and a member of the right-wing National party, he first entered parliament in 1948. B...

Marcion

(Encyclopedia)Marcion märˈshən, märˈsēən [key], c.85–c.160, early Christian bishop, founder of the Marcionites, one of the first great Christian heresies to rival Catholic Christianity. He was born in Sino...

Langland, William

(Encyclopedia)Langland, William, c.1332–c.1400, putative author of Piers Plowman. He was born probably at Ledbury near the Welsh marshes and may have gone to school at Great Malvern Priory. Although he took minor...

Hiss, Alger

(Encyclopedia)Hiss, Alger ălˈjər [key], 1904–96, American public official, b. Baltimore. After serving (1929–30) as secretary to Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Hiss practiced law in Boston and New York City....

Buthelezi, Mangosuthu Gatsha

(Encyclopedia)Buthelezi, Mangosuthu Gatsha (Ashpenaz Nathan Mangosuthu Gatsha Buthelezi) äshˈpĕnäzˌ, mängˌgōso͞oˈto͞o gätˈshä bo͞otəlāˈzē [key], 1928–, South African political leader. A Zulu ch...

libel and slander

(Encyclopedia)libel and slander, in law, types of defamation. In common law, written defamation was libel and spoken defamation was slander. Today, however, there are no such clear definitions. Permanent forms of d...

idealism

(Encyclopedia)idealism, the attitude that places special value on ideas and ideals as products of the mind, in comparison with the world as perceived through the senses. In art idealism is the tendency to represent...
 

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