(Encyclopedia) moonstone, an orthoclase feldspar, found in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Madagascar (and formerly in the St. Gotthard district of Switzerland). In spite of its pronounced cleavage, it is…
(Encyclopedia) spinel, magnesium aluminum oxide, MgAl2O4, a mineral crystallizing in the isometric system, usually as octahedrons. It occurs as an accessory mineral in basic igneous rocks, in…
Raymond Kurzweil, 1948–, KURZWEIL READING MACHINE. When entrepreneur Kurzweil introduced the Kurzweil Reading Machine in 1976, it was hailed as the most important advance in reading for the…
(Encyclopedia) Diemen, Anton vanDiemen, Anton vanänˈtōn vän dēˈmən [key], 1593–1645, Dutch colonial official. As governor-general for the Dutch East India Company in the East Indies after 1636, he…
(Encyclopedia) Parakrama Bahu IParakrama Bahu Ipäräkˈrəmə bäˈr&oomacr; [key], fl. 12th cent., Sinhalese king of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka; 1153–86). He was the first to unite the island under one…
(Encyclopedia) DravidiansDravidiansdrəvĭdˈēəns [key], name sometimes given to the peoples of S and central India and N Sri Lanka who speak Dravidian languages. They are so called for purely…
(Encyclopedia) Castellani, Sir AldoCastellani, Sir Aldoälˈdō käsˌtəläˈnē [key], 1877–1971, British-Italian bacteriologist, b. Florence, Italy. He demonstrated the cause and mode of transmission of…
(Encyclopedia) cat's-eye, gemstone that displays a thin band of reflected light on its surface when cut as a cabochon. Its name is derived from its supposed resemblance to the eye of a cat. The…
(Encyclopedia) Jarring, GunnarJarring, Gunnargŭnˈär yärˈĭng [key], 1907–2002, Swedish diplomat. He entered diplomatic service during World War II and was minister to India (1948–51), Ceylon (now Sri…
(Encyclopedia) umkokola, small, thorny S and E African tree (Dovyalis caffra, also called kei-apple), widely cultivated in its native area for the round or oval bright yellow fruits. Their juicy pulp…
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