History 2012
Adjective
living or active in the absence of free oxygen
Bog bodies are rare and important discoveries because they are so wonderfully preserved. The cold temperature, high acidity and anaerobic condition of the bog prevent decomposition.
Noun
action or process of flowing out
The news of Osama bin Laden's death touched off an extraordinary effluence of emotion as crowds gathered to celebrate the demise of Al Qaeda’s leader and symbol.
Noun
severe shortage of food resulting in violent hunger and death
During the Holodomor, 1932–1933 famine-genocide in the Soviet Ukrainian, 2.6 - 10 million inhabitants died of starvation from policies instituted by Stalin.
Noun
systematic killing of a large group of people
Killings of Hutu civilians in the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire) during the 1990s may constitute "crimes of genocide". More than 1 million made the trek from Rwanda during the fighting.
Noun
country's history and sites considered to be of value to present generations
The Great Pyramid is part of Egypt's rich heritage. Constructed some 4,500 years ago, this colossal structure was the tallest in the world for thousands of years.
Adjective
formed of a single large block of stone
The moai are monolithic carvings found on Easter Island. They represent deified ancestors, with overly large heads bearing enigmatic expressions.
Noun
cultural rebirth from the 14th through the middle of the 17th centuries
When sketches of the horse were found among Leonardo Da Vinci's "lost notebooks," Charles Dent, a collector of Renaissance art, decided to complete the story.
Noun
social system that provides separate facilities for minority groups
Martin Luther King's summer spent working on a tobacco farm in Connecticut helped influence him to become a minister and to heighten his resentment of segregation.
Noun
example regarded as typical of its class
This wonder megalith was discovered by a straying sports diver. Soon other ancient specimens were found, likely dating earlier than the start of the Egyptian civilization.
Adjective
joyful and proud especially because of success
When the Statue of Liberty was dedicated in 1886, traders threw tickertape from the windows. Now ticker-tape parades are held to mark particularly triumphal occasions.