More than one of these 7 encyclopedias carries each of the following subjects — but every one of them treats it in a sentence or two and then moves on. They are gathered here so the different accounts can sit side by side.
Antisthenes
Collier's New Encyclopedia: a Greek philosopher and the founder of the school of Cynics, born at Athens about B. C. 444. He was first a disciple of Gorgias and then of Socrates. He held virtue to consist in complete self-denial and disregard of riches, honor, or pleasure of every kind. He himself lived as a beggar. He died in Athens at an advanced age.
1000 Classical Characters: An Athenian, founder of the sect of the Cynic philosophers. He taught in the Cynosarges, a gymnasium for the use of Athenians born of foreign mothers; whence probably his followers were called Cynics, though others derive their name from their dog-like neglect of all forms and usages of society. From his school the Stoics subsequently sprung. رام
Covered by Collier's New Encyclopedia and 1000 Classical Characters
Antium
Collier's New Encyclopedia: a maritime city of Latium, now Porto d'Anzio, near Rome; after a long struggle for independence became a Roman colony, at the end of the great Latin war, 340-338 b. c. It is mentioned by Horace, and was a favorite retreat of the emperors and wealthy Romans. The treasures deposited in the Temple of Fortune here were taken by Octavius Cæsar during his war with Antony, 41 B. C.
1000 Classical Characters: A very ancient town of Latium, on a rocky promontory running out some distance into the Tyrrhenian Sea. The emperor Nero was born here. 10 3 2026 Editor's Note: Antium was not merely a birthplace of emperors but a strategically important coastal settlement with deep roots in Latium's pre-Roman history. Founded by Latial culture peoples in the 11th century BC, it became the main stronghold of the Volsci until Roman conquest. The Roman town's territory corresponds almost entirely to modern Anzio and Nettuno, making it one of the few ancient sites with clear geographic continuity to the present day. (Ed: BR 2026-07-09)
Covered by Collier's New Encyclopedia and 1000 Classical Characters
Antonio
Aiton's Encyclopedia: an-to'ni-o, in Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice, the wealthy merchant from whom the play takes its name. Although the action seems to hinge upon Antonio, through his relations with Bassanio and Shylock, he is not the hero of the play. Antonio may be regarded as one of Shakespeare's finest characters. His friends speak of him as "the good Antonio." One says, "A kinder gentleman treads not the earth," and another, "O, that I had a title good enough to keep his name company." Antonio is a name of frequent occurrence in literature. Shakespeare himself used it in several plays. The Venetian merchant, however, is the character whom the name usually brings to mind. See Merchant Of Venice
Collier's New Encyclopedia: TEXAS. near Poitiers, and slain by the orthodox Clovis, King of the Franks (507).
Covered by Aiton's Encyclopedia and Collier's New Encyclopedia
Apocalypse
Aiton's Encyclopedia: a-poc'a-lips, a name frequently given to the last book of the New Testament. It is believed to have been written near the close of the first century by John, "the beloved disciple," after he had been banished to the isle of Patmos by the Roman Domitian. The word apocalypse is from the Greek and signifies "I reveal." The apostle begins his revelation with the words, "I, John, was in the isle that is called Patmos," but it is claimed that the book was written after his return to Ephesus. 2026 Editor's Note: The word has flipped in meaning: from the Greek for 'unveiling' — a revelation — it now means catastrophe itself, the end of the world. The book's imagery, the Four Horsemen and Armageddon, saturates modern culture, from Apocalypse Now to every 'zombie apocalypse,' usually shorn of its original sense of hope. (Ed: BR 2026-06-28)
Collier's New Encyclopedia: the name frequently given to the last book of the New Testament, in the English version called the Revelation of St. John the Divine. It is generally believed that the Apocalypse was written by the apocalypse apostle John in his old age (95-97 A. D.) in the Isle of Patmos, whither he had been banished by the Roman Emperor Domitian.
Covered by Aiton's Encyclopedia and Collier's New Encyclopedia
April
Aiton's Encyclopedia: the fourth month of the year. The name is from a Latin word meaning to open. The name is given appropriately to the month of opening buds. It contains thirty days. The first day of April is known as April Fool's Day. It is traditionally a day of playing harmless jokes. In English-speaking countries one who is imposed upon is called an April fool; in France, an April fish; in Scotland, the term frequently applied is a gowk. Chambers suggests that an appropriate errand for the day is sending one to the library for the life of Adam's grandfather. A typical American diversion of the day is nailing a pocketbook to the sidewalk, or attaching it to a string, so that it may be jerked away when the passing pedestrian stoops to pick it up. The origin of the day is not clear, possibly French, but, however that may be, it is just as well for one who falls into a snare to take the matter good-naturedly. See Calendar 2026 Editor's Note: April Fools' Day survives in full vigor, now a fixture of corporate and media pranks — the BBC's 'spaghetti harvest,' Google's annual hoaxes — so reliably that news readers learn to distrust every odd story dated April 1. The custom's true origin remains, fittingly, a mystery. (Ed: BR 2026-07-11)
Collier's New Encyclopedia: the fourth month of the year. It was called Ooster, or Easter month, by the Anglo-Saxons, and Grass month by the Dutch.
Covered by Aiton's Encyclopedia and Collier's New Encyclopedia
Argyll
Aiton's Encyclopedia: ar'gil, a county on the west coast of Scotland. Area, 3,213 square miles, equal to two-thirds of Connecticut. Argyll includes forty parishes or one-tenth of the total area of Scotland. A number of border islands, including several of the Hebrides, belong to Argyllshire. It was the original home of several Highland clans, including the Campbells, the MacLeans, the Stewarts of Appin, the MacDonalds of Glencoe, and the MacDougalls. The chief industries are forestry, cattle raising, the herring fishery, and, we may add, the rearing of game, as grouse and deer. The chieftains of Argyll were firm adherents of the house of Stuart, and have ever been prominent in the political affairs both of Scotland and of the United Kingdom . The present Duke of Argyll is the former Marquis of Lorne, who married Princess Louise of England, daughter of Queen Victoria, and who served so acceptably as governor-general of Canada. 2026 Editor's Note: The islands and glens listed here were the stage for one of Scotland's darkest deeds: the 1692 Massacre of Glencoe , when Campbell soldiers murdered their MacDonald hosts in the night. The Campbell chiefs, Dukes of Argyll, still seat at Inveraray Castle, and the old clan rivalries live on mostly in Highland Games and tartan. (Ed: BR 2026-07-08)
Collier's New Encyclopedia: CAMPBELLS OF, a historic Scottish family, raised to the peerage in the person of Sir Duncan Campbell of Lochow, in 1445. The more eminent members are: ARCHIBALD, Second Earl, killed at the battle of Flodden, 1513.
Covered by Aiton's Encyclopedia and Collier's New Encyclopedia