Daily Content Archive
(as of Tuesday, April 2, 2019)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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demitasse
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Defining Dangling PrepositionsA dangling preposition (also called a "hanging preposition" or "stranded preposition") refers to a preposition whose object occurs earlier in the sentence, or else does not have an object in the sentence at all. It is considered "dangling," "hanging," or "stranded" because it does not form what? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 ZiusudraAccording to some ancient sources, Ziusudra was the last king of Sumer prior to the deluge described in the Sumerian flood myth. The earliest version of this myth, recorded in cuneiform on a tablet in the 17th century BCE, recounts how the hero, Ziusudra, survives the flood and is rewarded with immortality. His story is quite similar to biblical accounts of Noah and to the Babylonian Epic of Gilgamesh, which features a hero named Utnapishtim. What is the meaning of the name "Ziusudra"? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 First Congresswoman in US History Takes Her Seat (1917)Sometimes referred to as the "Lady of the House," Jeannette Rankin was the first woman to be elected to the US House of Representatives and the first female member of Congress. Just days into her term, she drew the ire of the press by voting, along with 56 others, against the resolution to enter WWI. In 1940, Rankin was again elected to Congress and once again voted against entering a world war, though this time she was the only Congress member to do so. What was the Jeanette Rankin Brigade? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Charlemagne (c. 742 CE)The Carolingian king of the Franks from 768 CE until his death in 814 CE, Charlemagne united most of Western Europe under a single empire for the first time since the Romans, becoming, in 800 CE, the first Holy Roman Emperor. Charles the Great, as he is also known, instituted many judicial and ecclesiastical reforms, promoted commerce and agriculture throughout his empire, made his court a center of learning, and inspired the Carolingian Renaissance. What was notable about his style of dress? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 There are several good protections against temptations, but the surest is cowardice.Mark Twain (1835-1910) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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the devil is in the detail(s)— Plans, actions, or situations that seem sound must be carefully examined, because minor details can end up causing major, unforeseen problems. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 International Children's Book Day (2023)This day, which is observed by countries all over the world, is held on Hans Christian Andersen's birthday, April 2, because the Danish author's stories have been favorites among children of all nationalities. Celebrations include contests in which children illustrate their favorite books. Every two years the International Board on Books for Young People sponsors the Hans Christian Andersen medals, which are awarded to a children's book author and a children's book illustrator for their contributions to children's literature. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: lapis lazuliazure stone - Another name for the lapis lazuli. More... lapis lazuli - A sky-blue semiprecious stone, it is pronounced lap-us-LAY-zuh-lee. More... sapphire - From Greek sappheiros, "lapis lazuli" or "blue stone." More... ultramarine - First a blue pigment made from lapis lazuli, imported from Asia by sea, so, in Latin, it was ultramarinus, "beyond the seas." More... | |