Rockefeller

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Rock·e·fel·ler

(rŏk′ə-fĕl′ər)

American family, including John Davison (1839-1937), an oil magnate who amassed great wealth through the Standard Oil Company and spent about half of his fortune on philanthropic works. His son, John Davison, Jr. (1874-1960), continued his father's work and had six children, including Nelson Aldrich (1908-1979), who was governor of New York (1959-1973) and vice president of the United States (1974-1977) under Gerald Ford.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Rockefeller

(ˈrɒkəˌfɛlə)

1. (Biography) John D(avison). 1839–1937, US industrialist and philanthropist

2. (Biography) his son, John D(avison). 1874–1960, US capitalist and philanthropist

3. (Biography) his son, Nelson (Aldrich). 1908–79, US politician; governor of New York State (1958–74); vice president (1974–76)

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

Rock•e•fel•ler

(ˈrɒk əˌfɛl ər)

n.

1. John D(avison), 1839–1937, and his son John D(avison), Jr., 1874–1960, U.S. oil magnates and philanthropists.

2. Nelson A(ldrich), 1908–79, vice president of the U.S. 1974–77 (son of John D. Rockefeller, Jr.).

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Noun

Rockefeller - United States industrialist who made a fortune in the oil business and gave half of it away (1839-1937)

John D. Rockefeller, John Davison Rockefeller

References in classic literature ?

* Standard Oil and Rockefeller--see upcoming footnote: "Rockefeller began as a member .

* Rockefeller began as a member of the proletariat, and through thrift and cunning succeeded in developing the first perfect trust, namely that known as Standard Oil.

"About ten years ago Rockefeller's income was given as thirty millions by an excellent authority.

Rockefeller's $2,500,000 a month had increased to four, to five, to six millions a month, to

"The Rockefeller bank--the National City Bank--is by itself far and away the biggest bank in the United States.

Rockefeller owns Standard Oil stock worth between four and five hundred millions at the market quotations.

"The first conspicuous excursion and incursion of the Rockefellers was into the railway field.

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Mind you, if my letters lead to anything it will probably be a situation as an earnest bill-clerk or an effervescent office-boy, for Rockefeller and Carnegie and that lot have swiped all the soft jobs.

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Rockefeller did not discover the hog, but it is considered his by right of resemblance.

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`He wasn't any Rockefeller,' put in Master Leo, in a very low tone, which reminded me of the way in which Mrs.

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Rockefeller, who more than once has been generous to Tuskegee, without being reminded of this.

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There have been no Vanderbilts in it, no Astors, Rockefellers, Rothschilds, Harrimans.