Columbia Encyclopedia

(Encyclopedia) Swift, Jonathan, 1667–1745, English author, b. Dublin. He is widely recognized as one of the greatest satirists in the English language. In 1713 Swift became dean of St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dubl...

(Encyclopedia) swift, common name for small, swallowlike birds related to the hummingbird and found all over the world, chiefly in the tropics. They range in size from 6 to 12 in. (15–30 cm) in length. Swifts have...

(Encyclopedia) crested swift: see swift.

(Encyclopedia) Swift Current, city (1991 pop. 14,815), SW Sask., Canada, on Swift Current Creek. It is a distribution and processing center for a farm and oil region. Other industries are helium extraction, lumberin...

(Encyclopedia) Jonathan jŏnˈəthən [key] [short for Jehonathan, Heb.,=Yahweh has given]. 1 In the Bible, Saul's son and David's friend, killed at the battle of Mt. Gilboa. David showed kindness to his son Mephibo...

(Encyclopedia) Trumbull, Jonathan, 1710–85, colonial governor of Connecticut, b. Lebanon, Conn. He was prominent in the colony after 1733, serving in the assembly, of which he became speaker, and in other offices....

(Encyclopedia) Bickerstaff, Isaac, pseudonym used by Jonathan Swift and later by Richard Steele in the Tatler. ...

(Encyclopedia) Jonathan, Joseph Leabua jŏnˈəthən [key], 1914–87, prime minister of Lesotho (1965–86). He founded (1959) and led the Basutoland National party working for separate independence from Great Bri...

(Encyclopedia)  Swift, Taylor Alison, 1989- , American singer-songwriter, b. West Reading, Pa. A precocious songwriter, Swift moved to Nashville at age 15 hoping ...

(Encyclopedia) Wild, Jonathan, 1683–1725, English criminal. He maintained a highly organized gang of thieves in London and long escaped punishment by posing as an instrument of justice and helping the authorities ...