World Period
(See Planetary Chains.)
Only in An Encyclopaedia of Occultism
Single-source entries: W (66)
These 13 listings are so strange that each appears in only one of the 7 encyclopedias we compared. They include such classics as World Period, Worm, Wormwood.
World's Columbian Exposition
a noted world's fair held at Chicago May-November, 1893. The exposition cost about $18,000,000 before the doors were open. The total cost was not far from $40,000,000. There were 400,000 people on the grounds on the day of opening. The largest attendance of any one day was 716,000. The total attendance was 27,539,041. The largest building, that of the manufacturers and liberal arts, covered nearly forty acres and cost $1,500,000. See Exposition
Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia
Worm
. See Earthworm
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Worm-geared Ladle
A crane-ladle geared with an endless screw and a spiral toothed wheel. The screw or worm being made to turn in a fixing attached to the bail, transmits motion to the axis of the ladle by means of a spiral toothed wheel keyed thereon. See CRANE-LADLES; LADLES.
Only in The Encyclopedia of Founding
Wormwood
. See Artemisia ; Absinthe
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Worsted
yarn or thread spun from long-stapled wool which has been combed. The yarn is soft and smooth, but is twisted harder in spinning than is yarn which is carded only. The latter is known as woolen yarn. In former times, an important distinction was made between "worsteds," that is to say, fabrics woven from worsted yarns, and "cloths," or fabrics woven from woolen yarns. Owing to advancement in methods of manufacture, this distinction is no longer of special significance, and the word worsted is used with various loose meanings. Technically, worsted yarn is distinguished from woolen yarn by being combed. As commonly used, the specific meaning of the word worsted is yarn for knitting and fancy work, which is smooth, being made from combed wool; whereas woolen yarn, spun from short wool that has been carded only, is rougher and more hairy since the fibers project in all directions from the body of the yarn. See Wool ; Spinning
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Worth
a village in Alsace, at the confluence of the Sauerbach and Sulzbach rivers. It is celebrated as the place where the French on Aug. 6, 1870, met their first great defeat at the hands of the Germans in the Franco-Prussian War.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Worthington
HENRY ROSSI- TER, an American inventor; born in New York City, Dec. 17, 1817; early engaged in mercantile business with his father; but in 1840 began a series of experiments with steam for the propulsion of canal boats. Soon afterward he devised a small steam pump to be used in the maintenance of the water supply in the engine boiler, and in 1841 patented an independent feed pump which developed into the direct-acting steam pump that he patented in 1849. Subsequently he built in Savannah, Ga., the first direct-acting compound engine ever used in waterworks; erected a large plant for the manufacture of pumping machinery; invented the duplex pump, and devised various improvements in steam and hydraulic machinery. He died in Tarrytown, N. Y., Dec. 17, 1880.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Wotherspoon
WILLIAM WAL- LACE, an American soldier born in Washington, in 1850. He was educated in private schools, and in 1873 was appointed 2d lieutenant of the United States Infantry. He was promoted to be 1st lieutenant in 1879, captain in 1893, major in 1901, and lieutenant-colonel in 1904. In 1905 he graduated from the Army War College. He was appointed a brigadier-general in 1907, and majorgeneral in 1912. From 1905 to 1909 he served on the general staff, and from 1907 to 1909 was president of the Army War College. He was assistant to the chief of staff in 1909-1910. From 1910 to 1912 he again served as president of the War College. He commanded the Department of the Gulf in 1912, and in the same year was appointed assistant to the chief of staff. From April to November, 1914, he was chief of staff. In the latter year he was retired.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Wotton
SIR HENRY, an English diplomatist; born in Bocton Malherbe, Kent, England, in 1568; was educated at Winchester and Oxford. He resided on the Continent for some years, and on returning to England was employed as secretary to Essex. On the fall of that nobleman from power (1600) Wotton fled to Florence, where he was employed by the grand-duke to reveal to King James of Scotland a plot against his life. When the Scotch king ascended the throne of England he showed his gratitude by making Wotton a knight, employing him abroad as an ambassador and ultimately (1625) appointing him provost of Eton. His ability as a writer is shown in "Reliquiæ Wottonianæ" (Wotton's Literary Remains), published in 1651, with Izaak Walton's "Life of Wotton." He died in Eton, in December, 1639.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Wraith
The apparition or double" of a living person, generally supposed to be an omen of death. The wraith closely resembles its prototype in the flesh, even to details of dress. It is believed possible for people to see their own wraiths, and among those who have been warned of approaching dissolution in this wise are numbered Queen Elizabeth, Shelley, and Catherine of Russia , the latter of whom, seeing her "double" seated upon the throne, ordered her guards to fire upon it! But wraiths of others may appear to one or more persons. Lord Balcarres saw the wraith of his friend "Bonnie Dundee" at the moment when the latter fell at Killiecrankie, while Ben Jonson saw
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Wrangel Land
an island in the Arctic Ocean; lying N. of the E. extremity of the Asiatic coast, and intersected by the meridian of long. 180° E. It was seen by the Englishman Kellett in 1849, again discovered by the American Long in 1867, and named after the Russian explorer Wrangel (1796-1870), who explorer supply sought in vain to reach it in 1821-1823. It was first explored by the American expedition under Hooper and Berry in 1881.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Wren, Sir Christopher
Sir Christopher (1632-1723), the architect of St. Paul's Cathedral, London. He was educated at Oxford. In his young manhood he wrote treatises on trigonometry and algebra, gaining for himself membership in the Philosophical Society at London. He sat in Parliament. While preparing plans in 1663 for the restoration of St. Paul's Cathedral, the building was destroyed by fire. He had the honor of planning and of completing the present structure, considered by many one of the great buildings of the world. Although he was the architect of other buildings, notably the library at Trinity College and the campanile of Christ's Church at Oxford, his name is connected chiefly with St. Paul's. He appears to have traveled in France but not in Italy. He was buried under the choir of the cathedral. The choir entrance bears a Latin inscription which may be translated as follows: "Beneath is laid the builder of this church and city, Christopher Wren, who lived above ninety years, not for himself, but for the public good. Reader, if thou seekest his monument, look about thee." See St. Paul'S
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