| an extraordinary or unusual thing, person, or event; an exceptional example or instance. |
| a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc. |
| William I | |
| —n | |
| 1. | known as William the Conqueror. ?1027--1087, duke of Normandy (1035--87) and king of England (1066--87). He claimed to have been promised the English crown by Edward the Confessor, after whose death he disputed the succession of Harold II, invading England in 1066 and defeating Harold at Hastings. The conquest of England resulted in the introduction to England of many Norman customs, esp feudalism. In 1085 he ordered the Domesday Book to be compiled |
| 2. | known as William the Bad. 1120--66, Norman king of Sicily (1154--66) |
| 3. | known as William the Silent. 1533--84, prince of Orange and count of Nassau: led the revolt of the Netherlands against Spain (1568--76) and became first stadholder of the United Provinces of the Netherlands (1579--84); assassinated |
| 4. | 1772--1843, king of the Netherlands (1815--40): abdicated in favour of his son William II |
| 5. | German name Wilhelm I. 1797--1888, king of Prussia (1861--88) and first emperor of Germany (1871--88) |
| William II | |
| —n | |
| 1. | known as William Rufus. ?1056--1100, king of England (1087--1100); the son of William the Conqueror. He was killed by an arrow while hunting in the New Forest |
| 2. | known as William the Good. 1154--89, last Norman king of Sicily (1166--89) |
| 3. | 1792--1849, king of the Netherlands (1840--49); son of William I |
| 4. | German name Kaiser Wilhelm. 1859--1941, German emperor and king of Prussia (1888--1918): asserted Germany's claim to world leadership; forced to abdicate at the end of World War I |
| William III | |
| —n | |
| known as William of Orange. 1650--1702, stadholder of the Netherlands (1672--1702) and king of Great Britain and Ireland (1689--1702). He was invited by opponents of James II to accept the British throne (1688) and ruled jointly with his wife Mary II (James' daughter) until her death in 1694 | |
| William IV | |
| —n | |
| known as the Sailor King. 1765--1837, king of the United Kingdom and of Hanover (1830--37), succeeding his brother George IV; the third son of George III | |