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Kaunas
Kaunas , Pol. Kowno, Rus. Kovno, city (1993 pop. 429,000), in Lithuania, on the Neman River. It is a river port and an industrial center with industries producing machinery, chemicals, plastics, and textiles. Over 85% of the population is Lithuanian. Probably founded as a fortress at the end of the 10th cent., Kaunas was a medieval trading center and a Lithuanian stronghold against the Teutonic Knights. It passed to a united Lithuanian–Polish state in 1569 and to Russia in the third partition of Poland (1795). Although strongly fortified by the Russians, it was captured (1915) by the Germans in World War I. From 1918 to 1940, Kaunas was the provisional capital of Lithuania—Vilnius (which Lithuania claimed as its rightful capital) being held by Poland until 1939. Kaunas was occupied by German forces from 1941 to 1944. During the German occupation the Jews of Kaunas (about 30% of the prewar population) were virtually exterminated. Before evacuating at the approach of Soviet troops the Germans destroyed much of the city. Nearby are a 16th-century town hall, the ruins of a castle (14th–15th cent.), the Vytautus church (15th cent.), and a noted 17th-century monastery. The city has a university (founded 1922), a polytechnical institute (founded 1950), a medical institute (founded 1951), and several museums. |
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"Kaunas." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Kaunas." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Kaunas.html "Kaunas." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Kaunas.html |
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Kaunas
Kaunas, Lithuania Kowno/Kovno Founded as a fortress in 1030, it passed to Russia in 1795 at the third partition of Poland, Lithuania and Poland having amalgamated in 1569. It was the provisional capital of Lithuania in 1920–40 while Vilnius was occupied by the Poles. The meaning of its name is not known for certain, but may come from the Slavonic kovati ‘to forge’ or from a Gothic word meaning ‘humble’ or ‘passive’.
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Cite this article
JOHN EVERETT-HEATH. "Kaunas." Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JOHN EVERETT-HEATH. "Kaunas." Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O209-Kaunas.html JOHN EVERETT-HEATH. "Kaunas." Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. 2005. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O209-Kaunas.html |
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Kaunas
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Cite this article
"Kaunas." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Kaunas." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-Kaunas.html "Kaunas." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-Kaunas.html |
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Kaunas
Kaunas •pandanus
•badness, madness, sadness
•Magnus • aptness
•fatness, patness
•redness • wetness
•anus, Coriolanus, heinous, Janus, Punta Arenas, Silvanus
•genus, intravenous, Maecenas, Malvinas, Salinas, venous, Venus
•Cygnus • proteinous • ruinous
•libidinous
•multitudinous, platitudinous, pulchritudinous, vicissitudinous
•cartilaginous, farraginous, oleaginous
•fuliginous, indigenous, oxygenous, polygynous, rubiginous, vertiginous
•androgynous, autogenous, endogenous, erogenous, exogenous, homogenous, hydrogenous, misogynous
•ferruginous • ominous
•bituminous, leguminous, luminous, numinous, voluminous
•conterminous, coterminous, terminus, verminous
•larcenous • gelatinous • cretinous
•mountainous
•glutinous, mutinous
•resinous
•Aquinas, Delphinus, echinus, Linus, Longinus, minus, Plotinus, sinus, vinous
•oddness • wanness • hotness
•Faunus, rawness
•Kaunas
•bonus, Cronus, Jonas, lowness, onus, Tithonus
•oldness
•newness, twoness
•fulness
•alumnus, rumness
•oneness • Oceanus • Eridanus
•diaphanous • polyphonous
•cacophonous, homophonous
•porcellanous • villainous
•membranous • tyrannous
•synchronous • Uranus • tetanus
•monotonous • gluttonous
•cavernous, ravenous
•treasonous • poisonous • Avernus
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Cite this article
"Kaunas." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Kaunas." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-Kaunas.html "Kaunas." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-Kaunas.html |
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