Apples of Hesperides
. See Hesperides
Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia
Single-source entries: A (75)
These 13 listings are so strange that each appears in only one of the 7 encyclopedias we compared. They include such classics as Apples of Hesperides, Apples of Sodom, Appleton.
Apples of Sodom
an orange-like fruit of fair appearance, that crumbles in the grasp into a mere handful of ashes; hence the figurative use of the expression, Apples of Sodom, or Dead Sea Apples, to describe that which attracts by outward beauty but is really worthless. The apples of Sodom belong to the nightshade family, and are related, therefore, to the ground cherry , the eggplant, the tomato, and other well known plants. 2026 Editor's Note: The 'Sodom apple' turned real menace: the plant (Calotropis procera) is now a fast-spreading invasive weed across Australia, Africa and the Caribbean, poisonous to livestock — its beautiful, hollow fruit still delivering the disappointment the old metaphor promised. (Ed: BR 2026-06-28)
Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia
Appleton
city and county-seat of Outagamie co., Wis., on the the Fox Fox river and the Chicago and Northwestern and the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul railroads; 25 miles S. W. of Green Bay. It is at the head of navigation on Lake Winnebago and on the Green Bay waterway, on a plateau 70 feet above the river, and near the Grand Chute rapids, whence it derives excellent power for manufacturing. The principal industries are the manufacture of farm implements, furniture, paper, flour, pulp, machinery, and woolen and knit goods. It is the seat of Lawrence University (Methodist-Episcopal), and has university and publicschool libraries, National banks, daily and weekly newspapers. Pop. (1910) 16,773; (1920) 19,561.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Appoggiatura
in music, a small additional note of embellishment in preceding the note to which it is attached, and taking away from the principal note a portion of its time.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Appold
JOHN GEORGE, an English mechanician and inventor of automatic machinery, born in 1800. He invented a centrifugal pump and a brake which was used in laying the Atlantic cable. He died Aug. 31, 1865.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Appomattox Court House
a village in Appomattox co., Va., 20 miles E. of Lynchburg. Here, on April 9, 1865, General Lee surrendered to General Grant, and thus virtually concluded the Civil War.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Apponyi
ALBERT, COUNT, Hungarian statesman, born 1846. He received his education at the universities of Vienna and Budapest. In 1872 he entered Parliament, and by his eloquence and gift of leadership soon became the head of the Conservative National Party. In 1899 he joined the ranks of the Liber- COUNT ALBERT APPONYI als; he was chosen President of the Reichstag in 1901 and was speaker of the Chamber from 1902 to 1904. In 1906 he became Minister of Public Education, and held that office till 1910. He visited the United States in 1904 as a delegate to the World's Peace Conference at St. Louis, and again in 1911, when he lectured on international law. He was a pronounced opponent of Count Tisza, for many years perhaps the most sinister figure in Hungarian public life. In 1920 he was head of the Hungarian peace delegation which visited Paris to receive the Allied peace terms. bill
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Apportionment Bill
a adopted by the United States Congress every 10 years, and directly after the completion of the Federal census, which determines the number of members that each State is entitled to send to the National House of Representatives, and provides for the necessary reorganization of the Congressional electoral districts. The apportionment based on enumeration of 1910 provided one representative for every 211,887 of population.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Apports
The name given to various objects, such as flowers, jewellery, and even live animals, materialised in the presence of a medium. The production of these apports have always been, and still are, one of the most prominent and effective features of spiritualistic séances. Sometimes they fly through the air and strike the faces of the sitters; sometimes they appear on the table, or in the laps of those present. A favourite form is the scattering of perfume on the company. Recent systematic experiments conducted in a purely scientific spirit have exposed fraud in numerous instances where ordinary precautions would not have sufficed for its detection. Frequently it has been found that the medium had skilfully concealed the apports in the room or about her person. Nevertheless, though the result is often produced by obviously unscrupulous means, it does not follow that all materialisations are performed with fraudulent intent. In cases where, so far as can be judged, the character of the medium is beyond reproach, as in the case of Helene Smith, the idea has been advanced that any preparations made beforehand, such as the secreting of flowers, etc., must result from a process of activity of the sublinimal consciousness. Other explanations are, that the apports are actually conveyed to the séance by spirits, or that they are drawn thither by magnetic power. Branches of trees, armfuls of fruit and flowers, money, jewels, and live lobsters are among the more extraordinary apports.
Only in An Encyclopaedia of Occultism
Apron
a platform of plank at the entrance of a dock. The apron in shipbuilding is a piece of curved wood placed behind the lower part of the stem, and above the foremost end of the keel, to strengthen the stem. The apron also formerly was a piece of sheet lead used in covering the vent of a cannon. any building form-
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Apse
a portion of ing a termination or projection semi-circular or polygonal in plan, and having a roof forming externally a semi-dome or semi-cone, or having ridges corresponding to the angles of the polygon; especially such a semi-circular or polygonal recess projecting from the eastern end of the choir or chancel of a church, in which the altar is placed. The apse was developed from the somewhat similar part of the Roman basilicæ, in which the magistrate (prætor) sat.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Apsley Strait
a narrow channel between Melville and Bathurst Islands, off the N. coast of Australia. It is about 40 miles in length, with a breadth varying from 2 to 5 miles.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Apulia
a region of ancient Italy along the Adriatic. In most ancient times, three distinct nations dwelt here the Messapians, or Sallentines, the Peucetians and the Dauni, or Apulians. The old Latin traditions speak of Daunus, a King of the Apulians, who was expelled from Illyria, and retired to this part of Italy. According to the tradition which conducts the wandering heroes of the Trojan war to Italy, Diomed settled in Apulia, was supported by Daunus in a war with the Messapians, whom he subdued, and was afterward treacherously killed by his ally. Aufidus, a river of Apulia, has been celebrated by Horace, born at Venusia, in this tory. The second Punic War was carried on in Apulia. Cannæ, famous for the defeat of the Romans,' is in this region The modern department of Apulia consists of three provinces: Bari delle Puglie, Foggia, and Lecce. The chief occupation of its inhabitants is the raising of domestic animals. Chief towns: t Bari, Brindisi, Foggia, Lecce. Area, 7,376 square miles; pop. about 2,500,000.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia