Bob Wills: …songwriter whose Texas Playboys popularized western swing music in the 1930s and ’40s.

taipan: The fierce snake, which is also called the inland taipan or western taipan (O. microlepidotus), is smaller and can grow up to 1.7 metres (5.5 feet) in length. A third species, the Central Ranges or western desert taipan (O. temporalis), was discovered in the central mountain…

tanager: rubra), and western tanager (P. ludoviciana). A less showy bird, the hepatic tanager (P. flava), has a greater breeding range: from southern Arizona to central Argentina. The most striking tropical genus is Tangara: about 50 small species sometimes called callistes. An example is the paradise tanager (T.…

tarsier: In Indonesia and Malaysia the Western tarsier (Tarsius bancanus) has huge bulging eyes, making the head broader than it is long; it also has the longest feet, and its tail is tufted at the tip. It thrives in both old-growth and secondary forests but can also be found in low…

Tatar language: …Tatar (spoken in Tatarstan) and Western or Misher Tatar. Other varieties include the minor eastern or Siberian dialects, Kasimov, Tepter (Teptyar), and Astrakhan and Ural Tatar. Kazan Tatar is the literary language.

Great Western Tiers, mountains in central Tasmania, Australia. They form the northern and eastern border of the Central Plateau. Basaltic in composition, their fault-formed scarps rise to 4,000 feet (1,200 m) near the River Mersey in the northwest; from Mount Ironstone, the highest peak (4,736 feet

Impatiens: The western touch-me-not (I. noli-tangere) is native to western North America, Europe, and Asia.

Turkmenistan: Relief: …of Turkmenistan’s territory, subdivided into western Turkmenistan and the Karakum. The Karakum is one of the world’s largest sand deserts, taking up the entire central part of Turkmenistan and extending northward toward Kazakhstan.

Ukraine: World War I and the struggle for independence: …state, shortly thereafter named the Western Ukrainian National Republic, embracing Galicia, northern Bukovina, and Transcarpathia. On November 1 Ukrainian forces occupied Lviv. This act touched off a war with the Poles, who were themselves resolved to incorporate Galicia into a reconstituted Polish state. The Poles took Lviv on November 21,…

The Western Union Company is a global financial services firm specializing in money transfers. Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, Western Union’s roots date back to 1851, when it established itself as a telegraph company in Rochester, New York. Although its growth in the American telegraph industry

The Western Union Company is a global financial services firm specializing in money transfers. Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, Western Union’s roots date back to 1851, when it established itself as a telegraph company in Rochester, New York. Although its growth in the American telegraph industry

University of Pittsburgh, coeducational state system of higher learning in Pennsylvania, U.S., comprising a main campus in Pittsburgh and branches in Bradford, Greensburg, Johnstown, and Titusville. The Pittsburgh campus is a comprehensive research institution of higher learning and includes 16

Tynedale: …limestone area commonly called the western uplands, with an elevation of 1,000 feet (300 metres), rises in the northeast to an extension of the igneous-based and peat-covered Cheviot Hills, with an elevation of more than 1,500 feet (450 metres). In the south, below the South Tyne valley, the area extends…

King Country, geographical region in North Island, New Zealand. Lying west of Lake Taupo and south of Hamilton, it embraces an area of 7,000 sq mi (18,000 sq km). It is bordered by the Waikato River (northeast), the Tasman Sea (west), the Ohura River (southwest), and by the Kaimanawa Mountains

China: Sino-Tibetan of China: The second is the western variant, also known as the Chengdu or Upper Yangtze variant; this is spoken in the Sichuan Basin and in adjoining parts of southwestern China. The third is the southern variant, also known as the Nanjing or Lower Yangtze variant, which is spoken in northern…

Western Wall, in the Old City of Jerusalem, a place of prayer and pilgrimage sacred to the Jewish people. It is the only remains of the retaining wall surrounding the Temple Mount, the site of the First and Second Temples of Jerusalem, held to be uniquely holy by the ancient Jews. The First Temple

wallflower: The western wallflower (E. asperum) is a 90-cm- (35-inch-) tall perennial found on prairies, sand hills, and open woods in central to western North America. It produces fragrant yellow to orange flowers borne on long spikes. It is sometimes used in rock gardens.

Western Washington University, public, coeducational institution of higher learning in Bellingham, Washington, U.S. It comprises Fairhaven College (an interdisciplinary studies program); Woodring College of Education; Huxley College of Environmental Studies; colleges of business and economics, fine

weka: …side of North Island; the western weka (G. australis australis), a common bird with nearly black plumage that inhabits the northern and western parts of South Island; the buff weka (G. australis hectori) of Chatham and Pitt islands; and the Stewart Island weka (G. australis scotti), which inhabits

wheatgrass: … (Pseudoroegneria spicata, formerly Agropyron spicatum), western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii, formerly A. smithii), and slender wheatgrass (Elymus trachycaulus, formerly A. trachycaulum), all of which are useful forage plants.

pine: Major North American pines: The western white pine (P. monticola) grows in the mountains of the northwestern United States and British Columbia, has light brown wood, and is extensively cut for lumber.

gnu: The western white-bearded wildebeest (C. taurinus mearnsi) is the smallest, 50 kg (110 pounds) lighter and 10 cm (4 inches) shorter than C. taurinus taurinus. It is also the most numerous; more than one million inhabit the Serengeti Plains and acacia savanna of northwestern Tanzania and…

Paula Fox: Writing career: … (1978), The Moonlight Man (1986), Western Wind (1993), and Amzat and His Brothers: Three Italian Tales (1993). Her book The Slave Dancer (1973), a dark but historically accurate work showing the horrors of the slave trade in the mid-19th century, won the 1974 Newbery Medal. In 1978 Fox was awarded…

pewee: …is the call of the western wood pewee (C. sordidulus). Some authorities consider the western form to be a race of C. virens. Both forms are plain birds, about 14 cm (6 inches) long, that resemble the eastern phoebe; the two forms differ from the eastern phoebe, however, in being…

Western World, cultural-geographic descriptor generally referring to the countries of western Europe and nations originating as western European settler colonies. The Western World, or “West” colloquially, has been a powerful and discursive concept for millennia, during which the geographic and

The Commercial Appeal, morning daily newspaper published in Memphis, Tenn., and one of the leading daily papers of the Mid-South in the United States. Founded in 1840 by Henry van Pelt as a two-page sheet called The Western World and the Memphis Banner of the Constitution, it was shortly renamed

choral music: The mass: …songs, as John Taverner’s mass, The Western Wynde (c. 1520).

Xi Xia, kingdom of the Tibetan-speaking Tangut tribes that was established in 1038 and flourished until 1227. It was located in what are now the northwestern Chinese provinces of Gansu and Shaanxi. Occupying the area along the trade route between Central Asia and Europe, the Tangut were content

ponderosa pine, (Pinus ponderosa), species of large, North Americapine tree noted for its soft, easily worked wood. It is the most widely distributed American pine, found in the mountain forests of western North America from British Columbia to North Dakota and south to Texas and Mexico. The

Pacific yew, (Taxus brevifolia), an evergreen timber tree of the yew family (Taxaceae). It is the only commercially important yew native to North America, where it is found from Alaska to California. Usually between 5 and 15 metres (about 15 to 50 feet) tall, it sometimes reaches 25 metres. See

Yiddish language: Western Yiddish, the only form of Yiddish that was used during the earliest history of the language, remained the dominant branch during the Old Yiddish period (ending about 1350). It comprises Southwestern (Swiss–Alsatian–Southern German), Midwestern (Central German), and Northwestern (Dutch–Northern German) Yiddish. Eastern Yiddish, roughly…

education: Xi (Western) Zhou (1046–771 bce): This was the feudal age, when the feudal states were ruled by lords who paid homage to the king of Zhou and recognized him as the “Son of Heaven.”

Sophia Western, fictional character, the beloved and, eventually, the wife of Tom Jones, hero of Henry Fielding’s picaresque novel Tom Jones

William Wyler: Films of the 1940s of William Wyler: …to the American West, but The Westerner (1940) bore little resemblance to the silent low-budget westerns he had fashioned during his early days in Hollywood. Among the film’s distinctive attributes are its brooding use of the landscape (brilliantly photographed by Toland), the iconic presence of Gary Cooper, and Walter Brennan’s…

Westernization, the adoption of the practices and culture of western Europe by societies and countries in other parts of the world, whether through compulsion or influence. Westernization reached much of the world as part of the process of colonialism and continues to be a significant cultural

Westernizer, in 19th-century Russia, especially in the 1840s and ’50s, one of the intellectuals who emphasized Russia’s common historic destiny with the West, as opposed to Slavophiles, who believed Russia’s traditions and destiny to be unique. See

Western Schelde, estuary, flowing westward for about 50 km (30 miles) through the Delta Islands in the southwestern Netherlands to the North Sea. The former islands of Walcheren and Zuid-Beveland (now a peninsula) are located to the north of the estuary. The Zeeuws Vlaanderen region, consisting

Westerwald, mountainous region in western Germany lying northeast of Koblenz and east-southeast of Bonn. It is on the right (east) bank of the Rhine and extends eastward for about 50 miles (80 km), between the Lahn River or the Taunus (south) and the Sieg River or Bergisches Land (north), and

Westerwald stoneware, salt-glazed stoneware produced in German towns such as Höhr, Grenzau, and Grenzhausen in the area known as the Westerwald. Their products (jugs, tankards, and the like), made from the 15th century to the present day, are molded, stamped with dies, and sometimes incised.

Groningen: …by the adjoining regions of Westerwolde and the Woldstreek. Intensive cultivation creates a large residue of straw, used in local strawboard factories. The southwest of the province (southern Westerkwartier) has mainly sandy soil that supports mixed farming and cattle raising. Horse breeding and equestrian sports are a favourite activity among…

Sri Lanka: Kandy and its struggle with European powers: …admiral of the Dutch fleet, Adam Westerwolt, who was then blockading Goa, India. The fleet came to Sri Lanka and captured Batticaloa. Westerwolt and Rajasinha II concluded a treaty on May 23, 1638, giving the Dutch a monopoly on most of Sri Lanka’s cinnamon and a repayment in merchandise for…

Westphalia, historic region of northwestern Germany, comprising a large part of the present federal Land (state) of North Rhine–Westphalia. The ancient Saxons were divided into three main groups: the Westphalians, the Angrians (German: Engern), and the Eastphalians (Ostfalen). The Westphalians, who

Dortmund: …(1956) and the Westfalenhalle (Westphalia Hall; 1952), one of Europe’s largest halls, which is used for conventions, exhibitions, and sporting events. In the 1980s a casino and a new town hall were constructed. The city is home to the University of Dortmund (opened 1968), institutes for molecular physiology and…

Westfield, city, Hampden county, southwestern Massachusetts, U.S. It lies along the Westfield River just west of Springfield. Originally part of Springfield, it was the site of the western frontier trading post (1660) of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and was incorporated as a separate town in 1669.

Westfield State University, public, coeducational institution of higher learning in Westfield, Massachusetts, U.S. It is part of the Massachusetts Public Higher Education system. The university offers undergraduate degree programs in such areas as biology, computer science, education, humanities,

Kool & the Gang: The group’s first charting single, “Kool and the Gang,” a horn-driven, highly rhythmic instrumental dance track, was followed by a steady string of similar…

G.W. Pabst: …viewpoint in such films as Westfront 1918 (1930), a realistic portrayal of trench warfare, Die Dreigroschenoper (1931; The Threepenny Opera), and Kameradschaft (1931; Comradeship), in which the virtues of international cooperation are extolled via a mine disaster met by the combined rescue efforts of French and German workers.

Kofi Awoonor: …a terrorist attack on the Westgate shopping centre in Nairobi.

Ruth Westheimer was a German American sex therapist who became one of the most trusted authorities on sex and relationships in the United States through her radio call-in program, television talk shows, and numerous books and media appearances. Her frank yet nonjudgmental manner combined with her

Paula Modersohn-Becker: …a friendship with the sculptor Clara Westhoff (who later married the poet Rainer Maria Rilke), and in 1900 they traveled together to Paris, where she was influenced by the Post-Impressionist paintings of Paul Cézanne.

West Highland white terrier, a short-legged dog standing 10 to 11 inches (25 to 28 cm) tall and weighing 13 to 19 pounds (6 to 8.5 kg). Its coat is pure white and consists of a soft furry undercoat overlaid by a straight, hard outer coat. It is thought that this breed of terrier is descended from

Pavement: …compiled into the 1993 album Westing (by Musket and Sextant), offered compressed snippets of industrial sound and shards of surprisingly melodic low-fi pop (from low fidelity; music made with rudimentary recording equipment such as four-track tapes). But Slanted and Enchanted (1992) revealed a new grandeur, with enigmatic anthems of subcultural…

Westinghouse Electric Corporation, major American company that was a leading manufacturer of electrical equipment. It was founded as the Westinghouse Electric Company in 1886 by George Westinghouse (1846–1914), the inventor of the air brake and other devices, to construct and market

Westinghouse Electric Corporation, major American company that was a leading manufacturer of electrical equipment. It was founded as the Westinghouse Electric Company in 1886 by George Westinghouse (1846–1914), the inventor of the air brake and other devices, to construct and market

George Westinghouse was an American inventor and industrialist who was chiefly responsible for the adoption of alternating current for electric power transmission in the United States. After serving in both the U.S. Army and the navy in the Civil War, Westinghouse received his first patent in late

John Westlake was an English lawyer and social reformer who was influential in the field of law dealing with the resolution of problems between persons living in different legal jurisdictions (private international law, or conflict of laws). Trained as an equity and conveyance lawyer, Westlake

Westland Tai Poutini National Park, park, west-central South Island, New Zealand. Established in 1960, it shares a common boundary with Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park along the main divide of the Southern Alps. With an area of 508 square miles (1,316 square km), it extends from the Tasman Sea in

NRW.BANK, major German commercial and investment bank. Its owners (guarantors) are the state of North Rhine–Westphalia, the Regional Associations of the Rhineland and Westphalia-Lippe, and the Savings Banks and Giro Associations of the Rhineland and Westphalia-Lippe. Its headquarters are in

Crown Princess Victoria: …Victoria announced her engagement to Daniel Westling, her personal trainer and an entrepreneur in the fitness industry. The wedding took place in the Storkyrkan, or Cathedral of St. Nicholas, in Stockholm on June 19, 2010. Their daughter, Princess Estelle, was born on February 23, 2012, and their son, Prince Oscar,…

Agatha Christie was an English detective novelist and playwright whose books have sold more than 100 million copies and have been translated into some 100 languages. One of the most popular authors in modern literature, she is widely regarded as the “Queen of Mysteries” or the “Queen of Crime

Neoclassical art: Britain: …of Neoclassicists included the sculptors Sir Richard Westmacott, John Bacon the Younger, Sir Francis Chantrey, Edward Hodges Baily, John Gibson, and William Behnes.

Vestmanna Islands, group of 14 small Icelandic islands off Iceland’s southern shore. They have a total area of about 8 square miles (21 square km). Volcanic in origin, the islands are rocky and barren, with precipitous cliffs up to 1,000 feet (300 m) in height rising straight up from the Atlantic

Westmeath, county in the province of Leinster, central Ireland. It is bounded by Counties Cavan (north), Meath (east), Offaly (south), Roscommon (west), and Longford (northwest). Mullingar, in central Westmeath, is the county town (seat). The western boundary of Westmeath is the lower part of Lough

Westminster, city, Adams and Jefferson counties, north-central Colorado, U.S., a northern suburb of Denver. Settled in 1863 by Pleasant DeSpain, a homesteader, it was named DeSpain Junction and developed as a shipping point for local farm produce. Later renamed Harris, the community was

Westminster, city, seat (1837) of Carroll county, northern Maryland, U.S., 31 miles (50 km) northwest of Baltimore. It was founded in 1764 by William Winchester and was commonly called Winchester in its early years. Because the town was confused with Winchester, Virginia, it was renamed for the

Westminster Abbey, London church that is the site of coronations and other ceremonies of national significance. It stands just west of the Houses of Parliament in the Greater London borough of Westminster. Situated on the grounds of a former Benedictine monastery, it was refounded as the Collegiate

Western painting: International Gothic: Subsequently, however, in the Chapter House of Westminster Abbey (probably executed c. 1370) there was strong Germanic influence, which has been tentatively compared with the work of Master Bertram at Hamburg.

Westminster Assembly, (1643–52), assembly called by the English Long Parliament to reform the Church of England. It wrote the Larger and Shorter Westminster catechisms, the Westminster Confession, and the Directory of Public Worship. The assembly was made up of 30 laymen (20 from the House of

Westminster Assembly, (1643–52), assembly called by the English Long Parliament to reform the Church of England. It wrote the Larger and Shorter Westminster catechisms, the Westminster Confession, and the Directory of Public Worship. The assembly was made up of 30 laymen (20 from the House of

Westminster Catechism, either of two works, the Larger Westminster Catechism and the Shorter Westminster Catechism, used by English-speaking Presbyterians and by some Congregationalists and Baptists. Written by the Westminster Assembly, which met regularly from 1643 until 1649 during the English

Fulton: Fulton is the seat of Westminster College (1851) and William Woods University (1870). At Westminster College, Sir Winston Churchill delivered his “Iron Curtain” speech on March 5, 1946. To commemorate the occasion, the college brought from London and reconstructed on its campus the 12th-century Church of St. Mary the Virgin,…

Westminster Confession, confession of faith of English-speaking Presbyterians. It was produced by the Westminster Assembly, which was called together by the Long Parliament in 1643, during the English Civil War, and met regularly in Westminster Abbey until 1649. The confession was completed in 1646

dog show: …in 1877, sponsored by the Westminster Kennel Club. The annual shows sponsored by this kennel club, in New York City, and by the International Kennel Club, in Chicago, are two of the most important dog shows in the United States.

Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, leading U.S. dog show competition, held annually by the New York City-based Westminster Kennel Club (WKC). It is one of the country’s oldest continuously running sporting events, second only to the Kentucky Derby in longevity. The designation Best in Show, awarded

Houses of Parliament, in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the seat of the bicameral Parliament, including the House of Commons and the House of Lords. It is located on the left bank of the River Thames in the borough of Westminster, London. A royal palace was said to have

Western painting: Late 12th century: …enthroned Christ in the contemporary Westminster Psalter seems to have left the 12th century far behind. This is pure Early Gothic painting.

bell chime: …English-speaking countries is the “Westminster Quarters” (originally “Cambridge Quarters”), consisting of the four notes E–D–C–G in various combination each quarter hour. Composed at Cambridge University by an organ student, William Crotch, for use with the new clock at Great St. Mary’s Church, in 1793, its subsequent use in the…

Sir John Bowring: …economist Jeremy Bentham started the Westminster Review in 1824 as a vehicle for the views of English radicals, Bowring became coeditor of the publication, and he subsequently took over its entire management. From the 1820s on he published studies in and translations of the literatures of eastern Europe and also…

Westminster School, distinguished public (privately endowed) school near Westminster Abbey in the borough of Westminster, London. It originated as a charity school (1179) founded by Benedictine monks. In 1540 Henry VIII made it secular, and in 1560 it was refounded by Elizabeth I and extensively

John Gresham Machen: …Protestantism, and he helped found Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. Ordained a Presbyterian minister in 1914, Machen was suspended from the ministry by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, U.S.A., for his opposition to modern liberal revision of the 17th-century English Presbyterian creed, the Westminster Confession. Following his suspension…

City of Westminster, inner borough of London, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames at the heart of London’s West End. The City of Westminster is flanked to the west by Kensington and Chelsea and to the east by the City of London. It belongs to the historic county of Middlesex. The

Houses of Parliament, in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the seat of the bicameral Parliament, including the House of Commons and the House of Lords. It is located on the left bank of the River Thames in the borough of Westminster, London. A royal palace was said to have

United Kingdom: Simon de Montfort and the Barons’ War: As a result the Provisions of Westminster were duly published, comprising detailed legal measures that in many cases were in the interests of the knightly class.

Statute of Westminster, (1931), statute of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that effected the equality of Britain and the then dominions of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Ireland, and Newfoundland. The statute implemented decisions made at British imperial conferences in 1926 and

Statutes of Westminster, (1275, 1285, 1290), three statutes important in medieval English history, issued in “parliaments” held by Edward I at Westminster. Each comprised a miscellaneous series of clauses designed to amend or clarify extremely diverse aspects of the law, both civil and criminal.

St. Anselm of Canterbury: Final years: At the Synod of Westminster (1107), the dispute was settled. The king renounced investiture of bishops and abbots with the ring and crosier (staff), the symbols of their office. He demanded, however, that they do homage to him prior to consecration. The Westminster Agreement was a model…

Paulus Buys: …year but helped negotiate the Treaty of Westminster (Aug. 20, 1585), by which Elizabeth I of England agreed to send an army headed by Robert Dudley, earl of Leicester, to the Netherlands. Buys fell out of favour when, along with other members of the religiously tolerant urban aristocracy, he opposed…

Westmore Family, family of Hollywood makeup artists credited with having introduced the art of makeup to the motion-picture industry. Born in Great Britain, on the Isle of Wight, George Westmore (1879–1931) fought in the South African (Boer) War and, after marriage to a hometown friend, Ada Savage

Westmore Family: Perc’s twin brother, Ernest Henry Westmore (1904–68), known as “Ern,” worked first at First National and then became head of makeup at RKO; while there (1929–31) he won the first award ever given to a makeup artist by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, for his…

Westmore Family: Perc’s twin brother, Ernest Henry Westmore (1904–68), known as “Ern,” worked first at First National and then became head of makeup at RKO; while there (1929–31) he won the first award ever given to a makeup artist by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, for his…

Westmore Family: Frank Westmore (1923–85) was long associated with Paramount Pictures.

Westmore Family: …on the Isle of Wight, George Westmore (1879–1931) fought in the South African (Boer) War and, after marriage to a hometown friend, Ada Savage (died 1923), opened his first hairdressing salon. He moved to Canterbury and then to Canada and the United States, working as a hairdresser in various cities…

Westmore Family: Montague George Westmore (1902–40), known as “Mont,” first worked free-lance for such directors as Cecil B. deMille but eventually joined the studios of David O. Selznick, supervising makeup during the screen tests for as well as the filming of Gone with the Wind (1939). Percival…

Westmore Family: …Adolph Westmore (1918–73), known as “Bud,” worked at Paramount and 20th Century-Fox and then was makeup chief at Universal Studios for almost 24 years (1946–70). Frank Westmore (1923–85) was long associated with Paramount Pictures.

Westmore Family: Montague George Westmore (1902–40), known as “Mont,” first worked free-lance for such directors as Cecil B. deMille but eventually joined the studios of David O. Selznick, supervising makeup during the screen tests for as well as the filming of Gone with the Wind (1939). Percival…

Westmore Family: Percival Harry Westmore (1904–70), known as “Perc” (pronounced “Purse”), headed the makeup department of First National Pictures and then of the company that absorbed it, Warner Brothers, where he remained for 27 years, joining Universal Studios only late in life. Perc was also the chief…

Westmore Family: Percival Harry Westmore (1904–70), known as “Perc” (pronounced “Purse”), headed the makeup department of First National Pictures and then of the company that absorbed it, Warner Brothers, where he remained for 27 years, joining Universal Studios only late in life. Perc was also the chief…

Westmore Family: Walter James Westmore (1906–73), known as “Wally,” headed the makeup department at Paramount Studios for 41 years (1926–67). Hamilton Adolph Westmore (1918–73), known as “Bud,” worked at Paramount and 20th Century-Fox and then was makeup chief at Universal Studios for almost 24 years (1946–70). Frank…

Westmore Family: Walter James Westmore (1906–73), known as “Wally,” headed the makeup department at Paramount Studios for 41 years (1926–67). Hamilton Adolph Westmore (1918–73), known as “Bud,” worked at Paramount and 20th Century-Fox and then was makeup chief at Universal Studios for almost 24 years (1946–70). Frank…

Westmoreland, county, southwestern Pennsylvania, U.S., located just east of Pittsburgh and bounded to the north and northeast by the Kiskiminetas and Conemaugh rivers, to the east by Laurel Hill, to the south by Jacobs Creek, to the west by the Youghiogheny River, and to the northwest by the