Adapa \3-'da-p3\ Legendary sage of the Sumerian city of Eridu. Endowed with great intelligence by Ea but still mortal, he was the hero of the Sumerian myth of the Fall of Man. Adapa was fishing when he was blown into the sea by the southern wind, whose wings he broke in rage. The heavenly doorkeepers Tammuz and Ningishzida interceded for him when he was summoned before Anu for punishment, but when Anu offered him the bread and water of eternal life, he refused, and human¬ kind thus became mortal.
adaptation In biology, the process by which an animal or plant becomes fitted to its environment. It is the result of natural selection act¬ ing on inherited variation. Even simple organisms must be adapted in many ways, including structure, physiology, and genetics; movement or dispersal; means of defense and attack; and reproduction and develop¬ ment. To be useful, adaptations must often occur simultaneously in dif¬ ferent parts of the body.
ADD See attention deficit disorder
Adda River \'ad-da\ River, Lombardy region, Italy. It flows southward 194 mi (313 km) through Lake Como and across the Lombardy Plain before joining the Po River above Cremona. It is used extensively for hydroelectric power in its upper course and for irrigation on the plain. Historically, it has served as a strategic defense line in wars dating back to the Roman period.
Addams, Charles (Samuel) (b. Jan. 7, 1912, Westfield, N.J., U.S.—d. Sept. 29, 1988, New York, N.Y.) U.S. cartoonist. He worked briefly as a commercial artist before selling his first cartoon to The New Yorker in 1933. He became famous for darkly humorous cartoons depict¬ ing morbid behaviour by sinister-looking characters, especially a family of ghouls whose activities travestied those of a conventional family; in one popular image, they prepare to pour boiling oil on a group of Christ¬ mas carolers. These evolved into The Addams Family, a 1960s television series that generated two Hollywood films.
Addams, Jane (b. Sept. 6, 1860, Cedarville, Ill., U.S.—d. May 21, 1935, Chicago, Ill.) U.S. social reformer. Addams graduated from Rock¬ ford Female Seminary in Illinois in 1881 and was granted a degree the following year when the institution became Rockford College. During a trip to Europe in 1887-88 she visited the Toynbee Hall settlement house in London, which sparked her interest in social reform. Determined to create something like Toynbee Hall in the U.S., in 1889 she cofounded Hull House in Chicago, one of the first settlement houses in North America to provide practical services and educational opportunities for the poor. She subsequently championed social reforms such as juvenile- court law, justice for immigrants and African Americans, worker’s rights and compensation, and women’s suffrage. In 1910 she became the first
female president of the National Conference of Social Work. An ardent pacifist, she served in 1915 as chair of the International Congress of Women and helped form the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom and the American Civil Liberties Union. In 1931 she shared the Nobel Prize for Peace with Nicholas M. Butler.
adder Any of several venomous snakes of the viper family (Viperidae) and the death adder, a viperlike elapid. Vipers include the common adder, puff adders, and night adders.
Adders occur in Europe, Asia,
Africa, and Australia. They range in length from 18 in. to 5 ft (45 cm to 1.5 m). The puff adder of Africa and the death adder of Australia and the nearby islands are particularly ven¬ omous, with a bite potentially lethal to humans. The name is also used for other snakes (e.g., the hognose SNAKE).
Adderley, Cannonball orig. Julian Edwin Adderley (b. Sept. 15, 1928, Tampa, Fla., U.S.—d. Aug. 8, 1975, Gary, Ind.) U.S. jazz saxo¬ phonist. He worked as a music teacher and led army bands before mov¬ ing to New York City in the mid-1950s. Acclaimed as a stylistic heir of Charlie Parker, he was also influenced by the more traditional rhythm-and- blues phrasing of Benny Carter. He performed with trumpeter Miles Davis from 1957 to 1959, then led an ensemble with his brother, cornetist Nat Adderley (1931-2000). In the 1960s he introduced gospel-music harmo¬ nies to his music.
Addis Ababa Vad-dis-'a-ba-.ba, 'a-dos-'a-bs-boX Capital and largest city (pop., 1994: 2,112,737) of Ethiopia. It lies on a plateau in the coun¬ try’s geographic centre at an altitude of about 8,000 ft (2,450 m). The city was founded as the capital in 1887 because of the unsatisfactory location of the former capital, Entoto. Addis Ababa was the capital of Italian East Africa 1935-41. It has become the national centre for higher education, banking and insurance, and trade. Several international organizations have their headquarters there, including the Organization of African Unity. In recent decades it has suffered unrest and extensive damage as a result of the country’s political instability.
Addison, Joseph (b. May 1, 1672, Milston, Wiltshire, Eng.—d. June 17, 1719, London) English essayist, poet, and dramatist. His poem on the Battle of Blenheim, The Campaign (1705), brought him to the attention of leading Whigs and paved the way to important government posts (including secretary of state) and lit¬ erary fame. With Richard Steele, he was a leading contributor to and guiding spirit of the periodicals The Tatler (1709-11) and The Spectator (1711-12, 1714). One of the most admired masters of English prose, he brought to perfection the periodical essay. His Cato (1713), a highly suc¬ cessful play with political overtones, is one of the important tragedies of the 18th century.
Addison disease Disease in which gradual atrophy of the adrenal cortex causes the adrenal glands to produce insufficient quantities of the steroid hydrocortisone while causing the pituitary gland to produce excess quantities of pituitary hormones. Most of the cortex tissue is destroyed by the time symptoms (including weakness, abnormal coloration, weight loss, and hypotension) appear. Hydrocortisone-replacement therapy is often successful, usually given with other hormones to stabilize sodium levels. More than half of cases are believed to be due to an autoimmune reaction (see autoimmune disease); the remainder are caused by destruction of the adrenal gland by granuloma (e.g., tuberculosis).
additive In foods, any of various chemical substances added to produce desirable effects. Additives include such substances as artificial or natu¬ ral colourings and flavourings; stabilizers, emulsifiers, and thickeners;
Puff adder (Bitis arietans)
COPYRIGHT© 1971 Z. LESZCZYNSKI-ANIMALS ANIMALS
Joseph Addison, oil painting by Michael Dahl, 1719; in the National Portrait Gallery, London.
COURTESY OF THE NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY, LONDON
© 2006 Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Adelaide ► Adler I 17
preservatives and humectants (moisture-retainers); and supplementary nutrients. Though many additives are harmless or even beneficial, others reduce nutritional value or conceal inferior raw materials or processing.
Adelaide City (pop., 2004 est.: 1,124,315) and capital, South Austra¬ lia. Adelaide lies at the base of the Mount Lofty Ranges on the Torrens River, near its harbour facilities at Port Adelaide. Founded in 1836, it was incorporated in 1840 as Australia’s first municipal government. Its rise as an agricultural marketing centre and the proximity of natural mineral deposits contributed to its economic growth. It is an industrial centre and has petroleum refineries as well as connections by pipeline to natural gas fields. Landmarks include the University of Adelaide, Parliament House, Government House, and two cathedrals.