See Also: african(medicine)
pan-African(dictionary)
African(dictionary)
African American(dictionary)
African trypanosomiasis(health)
African tapeworm(health)
African American(health)
African violet(encyclopedia)
African lily(encyclopedia)
African religions(encyclopedia)

Charles II (sh) and African (iou)


Charles II (sh)




born May 29, 1630, London, Eng.
died Feb. 6, 1685, London

King of Great Britain and Ireland (1660-85).

Son of Charles I and Henrietta Maria, he supported his father in the English Civil Wars. After his father's execution, he invaded England in 1651 but was defeated at Worcester. He then spent years in exile until Oliver Cromwell died and conditions favored a return to the monarchy. His Declaration of Breda paved the way for him to be proclaimed king in May 1660 (see Restoration). He became known as "the Merry Monarch" for his lifting of Puritan restrictions on Entertainment and his own love of pleasure; his best-known mistress was the actress Nell Gwyn. Important events of his reign included the controversial Treaty of Dover and two wars with the Dutch (see Anglo-Dutch Wars). By the 1670s the miscarriages of his queen, Catherine of Braganza, had reduced hopes that he would have a legitimate heir (though he left at least 14 illegitimate offspring). He almost lost control of his government when hysteria arose over the Popish Plot to replace him with his Roman Catholic brother James (the future James II). Charles kept his nerve, reestablished his political control, and eventually enjoyed a resurgence in loyalty. His political adaptability and acumen enabled him to steer his country through the struggle between Anglicans, Catholics, and dissenters that marked his reign.


African (iou)



African noun & adjective.
[Old English (only pl.) Africanas from Latin Africanus (Cicero), from Africa use as noun of fem. (sc. terra land) of Africus, from Afri pl. (sing. Afer) ancient people of N. Africa: see -AN.]
A. noun.
1. A black native or inhabitant of the continent of Africa. OE.
b. Hist. An American of African origin or descent. E18.
2. A white inhabitant of Africa. E19.
B. adjective. Of or pertaining to Africa; belonging to or characteristic of the African people or (Hist.) of African Americans. M16.
African American an American of African origin or descent; of or pertaining to such people. African blackwood = MPINGO. African cypress: see CYPRESS noun1 1b. African daisy a yellow-flowered plant of the composite family, Lonas annua, which is native to the Mediterranean region and N. Africa and is a naturalized weed elsewhere. African ELEPHANT. African Eve hypothesis: see EVE noun1. African hemp = SPARMANNIA. African mahogany (the wood of) a W. African tree, Khaya senegalensis (family Meliaceae). African peach: see PEACH noun1 2. African pepper: see PEPPER noun. African POMPANO. African SWINE fever. African TEAK. African violet = SAINTPAULIA. African walnut (the wood, resembling mahogany, of) a tropical African tree, Lovoa trichilioides (family Meliaceae).
? See also South African s.v. SOUTH.
Afri'cana noun pl. publications or Other items concerning or associated with Africa E20.
Africanism noun an African mode of speech, idiom, etc.; African character; African nationalism: M17.
Africanist noun & adjective (a) noun a specialist in things African; an African nationalist; (b) adjective of or pertaining to Africanists or Africanism: L19.
Afri'canity noun = Africanness M20.
Africanize verb trans. make African in character; spec. (a) place under the control of native African people; (b) hybridize (honeybees) with a stock of African origin to give an unusually aggressive strain: E19.
Africanness [-n-n-] noun the quality or condition of being African M20.