carol Popular song, usually of religious joy, associated with a season, especially Christmas. It typically alternates verses with a repeated refrain or chorus. The carol originated in medieval England, with texts in English or Latin or both, and it was often associated with dancing and proces¬ sions. The French noel, the German Weihnachtslied, and the Spanish vil- lancico can also be regarded as carols.
Carol I Vka-rol ,\ English Vkar-ol \orig. Karl Eitel Friedrich, prince von Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen (b. April 20, 1839, Sigmaringen, Hohenzollem-Sigmaringen—d. Oct. 10 1914, Sinaia, Rom.) King of Romania (1881-1914). Originally a German prince, he became prince of Romania in 1866, and when Romania gained full independence from the Ottoman Empire he was crowned its first king. He brought notable mili¬ tary and economic development along Western lines, but his neglect of festering rural problems led to the bloody peasant rebellion of 1907.
Carol II (b. Oct. 15, 1893, Sinaia, Rom.—d. April 4, 1953, Estoril, Port.) King of Romania (1930^-0). He became crown prince on the death of his great uncle, Carol I, in 1914. Because of his scandalous affair with Magda Lupescu (18967-1977), he was obliged to renounce his rights to the throne and go into exile in 1925, but he returned in 1930 and became king. He gradually undermined Romanian democracy and in 1938 proclaimed a corporatist dictatorship, but in 1940 he was forced to abdicate in favour of his son Michael.
Caroline Islands Archipelago, western Pacific Ocean. Lying south of the Philippines, the islands cover a land area of about 460 sq mi (1,190 sq km). Formerly part of the U.S.-administered Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, the group consists of several larger islands, including Yap,
Pohnpei, Chuuk (Truk), Kosrae, and Babelthuap, as well as many small coral islets and reefs. Though explored by the Spanish in the 16th century, they were rarely visited until Germany took them in 1899. Granted as a mandate to Japan after World War I, they were placed under U.S. trusteeship in 1947. The islands became the Federated States of Micronesia in 1986, with the excep¬ tion of Palau (Babelthuap and asso¬ ciated islands), which became independent in 1994.
Carolingian V.kar-o-'lin-jonV art Art produced in Europe during the reign of Charlemagne and his succes¬ sors until c. 900. The outstanding characteristic of the period was a revival of interest in Roman antiq¬ uity. Works of Byzantine art and architecture served as models. Illu¬ minated manuscripts and relief
Ivory book cover from the Lorsch Gos¬ pels, early 9th century; in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.
COURTESY OF THE VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM, LONDON, CROWN COPYRIGHT
scenes in ivory and metalwork reflected Classical motifs; mosaics and murals were also produced, but few have survived.
Carolingian dynasty Family of Frankish aristocrats that ruled nearly all or part of western Europe in 751-987. Pippin I (d. 640), the dynasty’s founder, came to power in the office of mayor of the palace under the Merovingian king Chlotar II, with authority over Austrasia. From this post, his descendants, including Charles Martel, continued to usurp authority from the Merovingians, who remained on the throne as figureheads until 751, when Charles’s son Pippin III, with papal support, deposed Childeric III and formally took the title of King of the Franks. Under Pippin’s son Charlemagne (Carolus Magnus—the source of the dynasty’s name), the Carolingian realm was extended into Germany and Italy, where he con¬ quered the Lombards and continued the alliance with Rome. Charlemagne also promoted religious reform and cultural growth and was crowned emperor by Pope Leo III on Dec. 25, 800. On his death, Charlemagne was succeeded by his son Louis the Pious, whose three sons divided the realm in 843. Despite internal strife and foreign invasion, the dynasty sur¬ vived until 911 in the eastern part of the realm, where German rulers would revive Carolingian political ideals later in the century, and in the western realm until 987.
Carondelet Vko-.ran-da-'letV (Francisco Luis) Hector, baron de
(b. c. 1748, Noyelles, Flanders—-d. Aug. 10, 1807, Quito, Viceroyalty of New Granada) Spanish governor of the territory of Louisiana and west¬ ern Florida (1791-97). When he arrived in New Orleans, he formed alli¬ ances with local Indian tribes to defend disputed territory north of the 31st parallel of latitude against U.S. settlers. He negotiated with Gen. James Wilkinson to effect the secession of the trans-Appalachian territo¬ ries from the U.S. and to secure their alliance with Spain. These efforts were terminated in 1795 with the signing of Pinckney’s Treaty (see Tho¬ mas Pinckney). Carondelet was recalled in 1797 and went to South America to become governor-general of Quito.
carotene Vkar-3-,ten\ Any of several organic compounds widely dis¬ tributed in plants and animals. They are pigments that give orange, yellow, or sometimes red colours to, for example, dandelions, apricots, carrots, sweet potatoes, butter, egg yolks, canary feathers, and lobster shells. Car¬ otenes are converted in the body into vitamin A, but, unlike the vitamin, they are not toxic even at high doses. Carotene has an antioxidant effect and is therefore used in pharmaceuticals and as a food and feed additive, as well as to colour margarine and butter.
Carothers Vko-'roth-srzX, W(allace) H(ume) (b. April 27,1896, Bur¬ lington, Iowa, U.S.—d. April 29, 1937, Philadelphia, Pa.) U.S. chemist. He became director of organic chemical research at DuPont in 1928. There he first worked on polymerization of acetylene and derivatives, leading to the development of neoprene. His outstanding achievement involved the theory of linear polymerization; he tested it by synthesizing polymers structurally resembling cellulose and silk, culminating in the production of nylon. The first synthetic polymer fibre to be produced commercially (1938), it laid the foundation of the synthetic fibre industry.
carp Hardy, greenish brown fish ( Cyprinus carpio, family Cyprinidae) native to Asia but introduced into Europe, North America, and elsewhere. Large-scaled, with two barbels (fleshy, whiskerlike feelers) on each side of its upper jaw, the carp lives alone or in small schools in quiet, weedy, mud-bottomed ponds, lakes, and rivers. An omnivore, it often stirs up sediment while rooting about for food, adversely affecting many plants and animals. Carp grow to an average length of about 14 in. (35 cm); some grow to 40 in. (100 cm) and 49 lbs (22 kg). In captivity they may live more than 40 years.
Carpaccio \kar-'pat-cho\, Vittore (b. c. 1460, Venice—d. 1525/26, Venice) Italian painter active in Venice. Little is known of his early life, but the dominant influences on his work were the Bellini family and Antonello da Messina. In the 1490s he began the first of four cycles of paintings that are his greatest achievement: scenes from the life of St. Ursula, now in the Accademia, Venice; scenes from the lives of St. George, St. Jerome, and St. Tryphon (1502-07) for the Scuola di San Giorgio degli Schiavoni, Venice; and scenes from the life of the Virgin (c. 1500-10) and the life of St. Stephen (1511-20). He was one of the greatest early Renaissance narrative painters of the Venetian school.
carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) \'kar-pol\ Painful condition caused by repetitive stress to the wrist over time. The median nerve and the ten¬ dons that bend the fingers pass through the carpal tunnel on the inner side
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Carpathian Mountains ► Carrickfergus I 341
of the wrist, between the wrist (carpal) bones on three sides and a liga¬ ment on the fourth. Repetitive finger and wrist movements rub the ten¬ dons against the walls of the carpal tunnel and may make the tendons swell, squeezing the nerve. Numbness, tingling, and pain in the wrist and hand may progress to loss of muscle control. CTS is most common in assembly-line workers and computer keyboard users. Treatment may include avoidance of the causative activity, ergonomic workplace design, anti-inflammatory drugs, brace or splint use, and surgery.