Alkahest
universal solvent of the alchemists. See ALCHEMY.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Single-source entries: A (39)
These 16 listings are so strange that each appears in only one of the 7 encyclopedias we compared. They include such classics as Alkahest, Alkalimetry, Alkoran.
Alkalimetry
the process of determining the purity of alkalies. Commercial potash and soda contain foreign substances, which diminish the percentage of real alkali. The alkalimeter furnishes a simple and ready means of determining the proportion of pure carbonate of potash or soda contained in any sample. It consists of a graduated glass tube, filled with diluted sulphuric acid, and containing as much su absolute sulphuric acid as would neutralize a given weight, say 100 grains, of carbonate of potash. One hundred grains of the article to be judged of is then dissolved in water, and as much acid is gradually added to it from the tube as to neutralize the solution, that is, take up all the alkali. The point at which neutralization is complete is determined by means of colored tests. Formerly, the two vegetable colors, litmus and turmeric, were alone used for this purpose. It is not, however, always easy to recognize the neutral point, and other indicators (as these coloring matters are called) have come into use. The chief of these are methylorange and phenolphthalein. A mixture of the alcoholic solutions of these substances imparts a pale yellow color to strictly neutral liquids, which is changed to deep red by the least trace of alkali, and to pink by a trace of acid. This method of determining the strength of alkalies is called the alkalimetric process.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Alkoran
. See Koran
Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia
All-Saints' Bay
in the state of Bahia, coast of Brazil, forms a natural harbor, in which the navies of the whole world might ride at anchor. Its length from N. to S. is 35 miles; its breadth 27. The town of Bahia lies just within it.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Allan
DAVID, an eminent painter known as "the Scotch Hogarth," born in 1744. He studied art for 16 years in Rome, gaining a gold medal for historical composition in 1773. In 1777 he began to paint to paint portraits in London. Among his most celebrated pictures are "The Origin of Portraiture" and the illustrations for Allan Ramsay's "Gentle Shepherd." He died in 1796. word used as
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Allan-a-Dale
a young minstrel in the old English ballads. About to be married, his bride is taken from him by her father, and promised to a rich old knight. Allan joins Robin Hood's band. With the aid of the outlaw and his bowmen, the maid is rescued at the altar, and the young couple are married. In Scott's Ivanhoe, Allan-a-Dale appears in the character of Locksley's minstrel. Scott has written a poem, also entitled Allan-a-Dale. Allan-a-Dale has no fagot for burning, Allan-a-Dale has no furrow for turning, Allan-a-Dale has no fleece for the spinning, Yet Allan-a-Dale has red gold for the winning. Come, read me my riddle! come, hearken my tale, And tell me the craft of bold Allan-a-Dale. See Ivanhoe ; Robin Hood 2026 Editor's Note: Allan-a-Dale rode Robin Hood's legend into modern pop culture — most memorably as the lute-playing rooster who narrates Disney's 1973 Robin Hood , singing the tale in a country-music voice. (Ed: BR 2026-07-12)
Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia
Allat
Wife of Allah, and joint ruler with him over the Chaldean Hell . M. Maspero describes her as the lady of the great country where all go after death who have breathed here below," and as their terrible judge.
Only in An Encyclopaedia of Occultism
Alleghany Mountains
. See Appalachians
Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia
Alleghenies
a synonymous with the APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS (q. v.), sometimes applied only to that portion of the system which extends from Pennsylvania to North Carolina, and which forms the watershed between the Atlantic and the Mississippi. The ridges, 2,000 to 2,400 feet high, are remarkable for their parallelism and regularity, all the main valleys being longitudinal. They are rich in coal, iron, and limestone, and their forests supply valuable timber.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Allegheny College
a coeducational (Methodist Episcopal) institution in Meadville, Pa.; organized in 1815; reported at the end of 1919: Professors, 26; students, 601; president, William H. Crawford, D. D.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Allegheny River
a river of Pennsylvania and New York; a head- 1 stream of the Ohio. It rises in Potter county, Pa., and joins the Monongahela at Pittsburgh. Among its tributaries are French creek, Clarion, and Conemaugh rivers. Its Its length is about 400 miles, and it is navigable for about 150 miles above Pittsburgh.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Allegory
a figurative presentation of a subject, which carries with it another meaning besides the literal one. It is as often used in painting, sculpture, and other imitative arts as in language, although it is usually considered rhetorical. Like the fable and the par parable, it has an underlying moral. It is metaphor extended to the minutest details, as in "Pilgrim's Progress."
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Allen
VIOLA, an American actress. She was educated in New York and at the age of 15 began her stage career. She became one of the most prominent players on the American stage, appearing in Shakespearean rôles and in many of the most successful modern plays. In 1906 she married Peter Duryea.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Allen
WILLIAM HENRY, an American educator, born March 27, 1808; educated at Bowdoin College; served several colleges as Professor of Latin, Greek, Chemistry, Natural Philosophy, and English Literature; President of Girard College, Philadelphia (1850-1862 and 1867-1882); and President of the American Bible Society from 1872 till his death, Aug. 29, 1882.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Allen
CHARLES HERBERT, an American diplomatist, born in Lowell, Mass., April 15, 1848; was graduated at Amherst College in 1869; served in both branches of the State Legislature, and in Congress in 1885-1889; was defeated as the Republican candidate for governor of Massachusetts in 1891; and succeeded Theodore Roosevelt as Assistant Secretary of the Navy, in May, 1898. On the passage by Congress of the Porto Rico Tariff and Civil Government bill, in April, 1900, the President appointed him the first civil governor of the island. He became president of the American Sugar Refining Co. in 1913.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Allen (ETHAN an American)
ETHAN, an American Revolutionary hero, born at Litchfield, Conn., Jan. 10, 1737. His services in the War of Independence, as Colonel of the "Green Mountain Boys," capturing Fort Ticonderoga; his attack on Montreal; sufferings as a prisoner in England; skillful diplomacy in behalf of Vermont, etc., are well known. He wrote account of his captivity an (1779), “A Vindication of Vermont" (1784), and "Allen's Theology, or the Oracles of Reason" (1784), in which he declared reason to be the only oracle of man. He died near Burlington, Vt., Feb. 12. 1789.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia