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Possible definitions for algn

alenu
(Hebrew: "it is our duty") Opening words of a Jewish prayer recited at the end of the three periods of daily prayer since the Middle Ages. The first section is a prayer of thanks for Israel's being chosen for God's service; the second expresses hope for the coming messianic age. Though traditionally ascribed to Joshua, it is often credited to Abba Arika, a Jewish scholar in Babylonia in the 3rd cent. AD.


algae
Any of a group of mostly aquatic, photosynthetic organisms (see photosynthesis) that defy precise definition. They range in size from the microscopic flagellate Micromonas to giant kelp that reach 200 ft (60 m) in length. Algae provide much of the earth's oxygen, serve as the food base for almost all aquatic life, and provide foods and industrial products, incl. petroleum products. Their photosynthetic pigments are more varied than those of plants, and their cells have features not found among plants and animals. The classification of algae is changing rapidly as new taxonomical information is discovered. Algae were formerly classified into three major groups--the red, brown, and green seaweeds--based on the pigment molecules in their chloroplasts. Many more than three groups are now recognized, each sharing a common set of pigment types. Algae are not closely related to each other in an evolutionary sense. Specific groups can be distinguished from protozoans and fungi (see fungus) only by the presence of chloroplasts and their ability to carry out photosynthesis, and thus have a closer evolutionary relationship with the protozoa or fungi than with other algae. Use of algae is perhaps as old as mankind; seaweeds are eaten by coastal societies, and algae are served in many restaurants. They are common on "slimy" rocks in streams (see diatoms) and as green sheens on pools and ponds.


Alger
U.S. writer. Born in Chelsea, Mass., the son of a Unitarian minister, he graduated from Harvard with honors, then earned a degree from its divinity school. Forced to leave his pulpit after two years because of allegations of improper activities with youths, he took up writing. Beginning with Ragged Dick (1868), he wrote over 100 books that were almost alike in preaching that through honesty, cheerful perseverance, and hard work, a poor but virtuous lad would have his just reward (though it was almost always precipitated by good luck). His books sold more than 20 million copies, despite consistently weak plots and dialogue, and Alger was one of the most popular and socially influential writers of the late 19th cent.


ALGOL
High-level algebraic computer programming language developed in the late 1950s as an international language for the expression of algorithms (its name is derived from ALGOrithmic Language) between humans as well as between humans and machines. Used especially in mathematical and scientific applications, ALGOL was more popular in Europe than in the U.S., but it ...

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