Ardoch
a parish in south Perthshire, celebrated for its Roman remains, one, a camp, being the most perfect existing in Scotland.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Single-source entries: A (84)
These 16 listings are so strange that each appears in only one of the 7 encyclopedias we compared. They include such classics as Ardoch, Areca, Arecibo.
Are
the unit of the French land measure, equal to 100 square meters, or 1,076.44 square feet. A hectare is 100 ares, equal to 2.47 acres.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Areca
a genus of lofty palms with pinnat d leaves, and a drupe-like fruit inclosed in a fibrous rind. A. catechu, of the Coromandel and Malabar coasts, is the common areca palm which yields areca or betel nuts, and also the astringent juice catechu. A. oleracea is the cabbage tree, or cabbage palm of the West Indies. With lime and the leaves of the betel pepper, the areca nuts, when green, form the celebrated masticatory of the East. They are an important article in Eastern trade.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Arecibo
an important commercial town of Porto Rico; on the N. coast; facing the Atlantic Ocean; 50 miles W. of San Juan. Tributary to the town is a district of about 30,000 inhabitants. Pop. (1920) 10,039
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Arena
the inclosed space in the - central part of the Roman amphitheaters, in which took place the combats of gladiators or wild beasts. It was usually covered with sand or sawdust to prevent the gladiators from slipping, and to absorb the blood.
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Areolar Tissue
a tissue widely diffused through the body, and composed of white and yellow fibers, the former imparting to it strength, and the latter elasticity. Areolar tissue protects cts from injury the parts of the body in which it occurs, and when placed in the interstices of other tissues it keeps the latter from moving as freely as otherwise they would, The cutis vera, or true skin, is composed of it.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Areometer
an instrument designed to measure the specific gravity of liquids. The simpler areometers measure only the relative weights of liquids. They consist of a tube of glass, terminated in a ball at its lower part, and divided into equal portions through its whole length. Another ball filled with mercury is soldered below to keep it vertical. The depth to which it sinks in various liquids is in the inverse ratio of their relative specific gravities.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Arequipa
a city of Peru, capital of the department of the same name (area 21,951 square miles; pop. about 300,000); 40 miles from the Pacific Ocean, on the Chile river; altitude, 7,850 feet above sea-level. It is a bishop's seat, has a college, several convents, and a cathedral. Its trade is large. Gold and silver are mined in the vicinity. A great earthquake occurred Aug. 13 and 14, 1868, which destroyed much property and killed 500 persons. Near by Harvard University has an observatory, at an altitude of over 8,000 feet. Pop. about 40,000.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Ares
the Greek god of war, identified with the Latin Mars. See Mars
Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia
Arezzo
a city of central Italy, capital of a province of the same name in Tuscany, near the confluence of the Chiana with the Arno. It has a noble cathedral, remains of an ancient amphitheater, etc. It was one of the 12 chief Etruscan towns, and in later times fought long against the Florentines, to whom it had finally to suceumb. It is the birthplace of Mæcenas, Petrarch, Pietro Aretino, Redi, and Vasari. Pop. about 50,000. The province of Arezzo contains 1,273 squares miles. Pop. about 300,000.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Argall
SIR SAMUEL, an early English adventurer in Virginia, born about 1572; planned and executed the abduction of Pocahontas, the daughter of the Indian chief Powhatan, in order to secure the ransom of English prisoners. He was Deputy-Governor of Virginia (1617-1619), and was accused of many acts of rapacity and tyranny. In 1620 he served in an expedition against Algiers, and was knighted by James I. He died in 1639.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Argand
Amie, a Swiss physician and chemist. Born at Geneva about the middle of the eighteenth century. Died 1803. He is noted as the inventor of the Argand lamp. The use of the old-fashioned round wick was always attended with smoke and more or less of foul smell, owing to an imperfect combustion of the carbon in the oil. A flat wick is a great improvement upon the round one, as it enables more air to reach the flame. Argand conceived the plan of circular wicks shaped like a hollow cylinder, admitting air to the flame on the inside as well. He also patented an invention for a slow feed from a reservoir, thus keeping the surface of the oil at the same level. The French Revolution annulled his patents from which he appears to have received little profit, but a great deal of annoyance. See Light 2026 Editor's Note: Argand 's circular wick was a lighting revolution — his lamp burned far brighter and cleaner than any before, lighting homes and lighthouses until gas and then electricity displaced it. The same air-to-the-flame principle survives in the modern gas burner. (Ed: BR 2026-07-05)
Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia
Argand Lamp
a lamp named after its inventor, Aimé Argand, a Swiss chemist and physician (born 1755; died 1803), the distinctive feature of which is a burner forming a ring or hollow cylinder covered by a chimney, so that the flame receives a current of air both on the inside and on the outside.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Argemone
a genus of plants belonging to the_family papaveraceæ, or poppy-worts. It has three pals and six petals. The A. Mexicana, sepals believed, as its name imports, to have come from Mexico, is now common in India and other warm countries in the Old World, as well as in the New. It has conspicuous yellow flowers. From having its calyx prickly, it is often called Mexican thistle. The yellow juice, when reduced to consistence, resembles gamboge. It is detersive. The seeds are a more powerful narcotic than opium.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Argent
in coats of arms, the heraldic term expressing silver; represented in engraving by a plain white surface.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Argenta
a city of Arkansas, in Pulaski co. It is on the Arkansas river, and on the St. Louis Southwestern, the St. Louis, Iron Mountain, and Southern, and the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific railroads. The chief industries are railroad shops, cotton and oil mills, and boiler and iron works. There is a hoital and other public institutions. Fuel is supplied by natural gas. It is the center of an important agricultural region. Pop. (1910) 11,138; (1920) 14,048.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia