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.
Crescent
Aiton's Encyclopedia: the moon in its first quarter,--the new moon . The word is Latin, meaning increasing, and has no reference to shape. It was applied to the new moon as growing, increasing; but the name has been transferred from the growth to the curved shape, the thick body, and tapering horns of the young moon, and, inappropriately, to the last quarter, when the lighted portion of the moon is indeed sickle shaped, but is waning instead of waxing. The Egyptian and the Greek worshipers of the moon decorated their goddesses, Isis and Silene, with the crescent. Athenian citizens of illustrious birth were permitted to wear crescents of silver and ivory on their buskins as insignia of rank. The patricians of Rome claimed a similar privilege. The crescent was adopted by the Roman empire as the symbol of growing power and eternal dominion. The crescent was favored in the eastern cities, as at Byzantium, possibly by way of distinction from the Roman eagle, the military emblem particularly of Rome and the western empire. The Turks appear to have adopted the crescent after they took Constantinople. Since that date the crescent has been the emblem of Islam, as the cross is the emblem of Christianity. New Orleans , built around a bend of the Mississippi river, is on that account called "The Crescent City .
American Watchmaker and Jeweler: The concave formed in the roller of the lever escapement to allow the passage of the safety pin.
Covered by Aiton's Encyclopedia and American Watchmaker and Jeweler
Crispin
Collier's New Encyclopedia: saint and martyr; about the middle of the 3d century, under the reign of Diocletian, fled, along with his brother Crispinian, from Rome, into Gaul, where he worked as a shoemaker in the town which is now called Soissons, and distinguished himself by his exertions for the spread of Christianity, as well as by his works of charity. In A. D. 287 he and his brother suffered martyrdom by being thrown into a caldron of molten lead. Both are commemorated on Oct. 25. Crispin is the universally recognized patron saint of shoemakers.
Aiton's Encyclopedia: a Roman martyr of noble family. Obliged to flee from Rome during the persecutions of Diocletian, Crispin maintained himself in what is now Soissons, France, by making shoes. He was so charitable, the legend runs, that he even stole leather to make shoes for the poor. He suffered martyrdom in 287. October 25th is St. Crispin's day. He is the patron saint of shoemakers, who are jocularly called knights of St. Crispin.
Covered by Collier's New Encyclopedia and Aiton's Encyclopedia
Croesus
1000 Classical Characters: The fifth and last of the Mermnadae, who reigned in Lydia, was the son of Alyattes, and was considered the richest man in the world. His court was an asylum for learning, and Aesop, the famous fable writer, with other learned men, lived under his patronage. "As rich as Croesus" has become a proverb. 2026 Editor's Note: While this text identifies Croesus as the richest man in the world, his reign ended in 546 BC when the Persian king Cyrus the Great captured the Lydian capital of Sardis. His downfall was so significant to the ancient world that it provided a fixed point in the Greek calendar, and by the fifth century, he had transitioned from a historical figure into a subject of myth. Though his exact fate remains a mystery, ancient accounts vary between his execution and his survival as an advisor in Cyrus' service. (Ed: BR 2026-06-07)
Aiton's Encyclopedia: kre'sus (560 B. C.), the last king of Lydia in Asia Minor . He extended the limits of his father's kingdom. From tribute mines and the sands of a local mountain stream, the Pactolus, he accumulated so much gold that "as rich as Croesus" became a proverbial expression. In his prosperity he deemed himself the happiest of mortals; but Solon, the wise Greek, denied him the title, saying no man could be sure of happiness during his lifetime. Surely enough, misfortune overtook him. His favorite son was killed, and Cyrus, the Persian, took away his wealth and his dominion.
Covered by 1000 Classical Characters and Aiton's Encyclopedia
Crow-Blackbird
Collier's New Encyclopedia: the name of certain American birds of the genus Quiscălus, family Sturnidæ or starlings. The great crow-blackbird, Q. major, found in the Southern States, Mexico, and the West Indies, is 16 inches long, and of a glossy black plumage. The female is of a light brown above and whitish beneath. The purple grackle, lesser or common crow-blackbird, Q. versicolor, is similar in color to the preceding, but smaller. They reach the Middle States of the United States from the S. in flocks in the latter part of March, and build in April in the tall pines or cedars. In their first arrival they feed upon insects, but afterward commit great ravages upon the young corn. In November they fly S. again.
Aiton's Encyclopedia: . See Blackbird Crow blackbird
Covered by Collier's New Encyclopedia and Aiton's Encyclopedia
Cubeb
Aiton's Encyclopedia: a climbing shrub of Java, New Guinea , and adjacent islands. It is closely related to the peppers. When dried its berries resemble black pepper, except that they have short stems or stalks. Cubebs are administered for a number of ailments, and are smoked as a remedy for catarrh and asthma. See Pepper ; Medicine
Collier's New Encyclopedia: the small spicy berry of the plant or plants described under CUBEBA.
Covered by Aiton's Encyclopedia and Collier's New Encyclopedia
Cupid
Aiton's Encyclopedia: in Roman mythology, the god of love. He was the son of Mercury and Venus. The Romans identified with their Cupid the Greek Eros and the legends concerning him. Cupid is usually represented as a chubby, winged boy with a bow and quiver full of arrows, with which to pierce the hearts of his willing victims. Sometimes the ancients represented him as riding on a lion or a dolphin; sometimes as breaking the thunderbolts of Jupiter, which were ways of signifying his power. Cupid is usually spoken of as blind, or blindfolded. He figures in a large number of legends. His name is of frequent occurrence in literature, and he has always been a favorite subject with sculptors and painters. Figures of children, with or without wings, introduced into works of art for decorative purposes, are frequently called cupids without any mythological allusion. See Eros Some Cupid kills with arrows, Some with traps. --Shakespeare. Love looks not with the eyes but with the mind, And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind. --Shakespeare.
Collier's New Encyclopedia: the god of Love, generally repas a resented beautiful naked boy, winged, blind, and armed with a bow and a quiver full of arrows, with which he transfixed the hearts of lovers, kindling desire in them. He was equivalent to, but not perfectly identical with, the Erōs of the Greeks. He was supposed to be the son of Mercury and Venus.
Covered by Aiton's Encyclopedia and Collier's New Encyclopedia