Daily Content Archive
(as of Thursday, April 21, 2022)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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intaglio
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Using infinitivesInfinitives are used to express an action as a concept, rather than what is being done or performed by the subject of a clause. In this way, they can function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs—that is, nearly any role in a sentence except what? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 AsbestosNowadays, the idea of being exposed to asbestos strikes fear in the hearts of most. But just a couple of generations ago, people embraced asbestos-containing materials for their fire-and corrosion-resistant properties. Asbestos—a product obtained from a family of fibrous hydrated silicates—was used in fireproofing, electrical insulation, and various other building materials as well as safety apparel, brake pads, and countless other products. When was it discovered to be a serious health hazard? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 The Battle of Mutina (43 BCE)The Battle of Mutina was fought in 43 BCE between Marc Antony and the combined forces of Gaius Vibius Pansa Caetronianus and Aulus Hirtius, who were providing aid to one of Julius Caesar's assassins, Decimus Junius Brutus Albinus. When negotiations between the Roman Senate and Antony broke off a year after Caesar's murder, Antony gathered his legions and marched against Decimus Brutus. Though Hirtius died in the battle, Antony was defeated. Not long after, a truce was formed between whom? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Charlotte Brontë (1816)The eldest of the three famous Brontë sisters whose novels have become standards of English literature, Charlotte Brontë is best known for penning Jane Eyre, the story of a governess who falls passionately in love with her employer. Ranked among the great English novels, it addresses women's need for both love and independence. Considered the most professional of the sisters, Charlotte endeavored to achieve financial success from the family's literary efforts. What were her other novels? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 A sharp tongue is the only edge tool that grows keener with constant use.Washington Irving (1783-1859) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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extra pair of hands— Additional help or assistance provided by another person. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Parilia (2023)This ancient Roman festival was held in honor of Pales, the protector of shepherds and their flocks. The Parilia was a pastoral rite observed not only in rural areas but also in Rome, where it coincided with the city's founding in 753 BCE. Although no sacrifices were offered, lustrations (purifying ceremonies) were carried out with fire and smoke. The stables were purified with smoke and swept out with brooms; in rural areas, heaps of straw were set ablaze, and shepherds and their flocks had to pass over them three times. The festival ended with a huge open-air feast. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: spinningheckle - First a "flax comb" for splitting and straightening the fibers for spinning; its metaphorical sense developed from its verb form, "to mangle by cutting, to cut roughly." More... distaff side, spear side - The female side of a family is the distaff side—the distaff being a stick used for holding yarn when spinning; the male side is the spear side. More... fouette - A spectacular pirouette in which the ballerina whips her raised leg around in an eggbeater motion while spinning on the other leg. More... | |