Daily Content Archive
(as of Wednesday, February 21, 2018)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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misbehave
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Verbs that Take Bare InfinitivesThe base form of a verb is simply the infinitive without the particle "to." The base form is used after the direct object of certain action verbs, as well as after what other kind of verb? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 Secondhand SmokeSecondhand smoke is cigarette, cigar, or pipe smoke that is inhaled unintentionally by nonsmokers. The amount of such smoke inhaled by a nonsmoker is relatively small when compared to the amount inhaled by a tobacco user; however, so-called passive smoking can aggravate respiratory illnesses and contribute to serious diseases, including cancer. This danger has led many countries to adopt smoking bans in indoor spaces. How has the tobacco industry responded to the issue of secondhand smoke? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 The Communist Manifesto Is Published (1848)Commissioned by the Communist League and written by theorists Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, the Communist Manifesto is one of the most influential political tracts in history. It calls on the proletariat to overthrow the capitalists, abolish private property, and take over the means of production. It also advocates for a progressive income tax system and universal free public education. After predicting an eventual classless society, the document ends with what famous statement? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Robert Mugabe (1924)Mugabe has served as the head of the government of Zimbabwe since 1980, after rising to prominence in the 1970s as leader of a Marxist-inspired guerrilla war against the government of Rhodesia. Though he remains a hero to some for his role in the independence movement, his administration now faces accusations of corruption, suppression of political opposition, mishandling of land reform, and human rights abuses. What 2005 movie was banned by his office amid claims that it is CIA propaganda? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 Silver is sometimes more valuable than gold ... that is, in large quantities.Gilbert Chesterton (1874-1936) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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broken record— A person or thing that repeats itself over and over again. Likened to vinyl records that when severely scratched (i.e., "broken") can loop over the same recorded segment endlessly. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Feralia (2023)This ancient Roman festival marked the culmination of a week-long celebration in honor of the manes, spirits of the dead. It began on February 13 with the Parentalia, a private celebration in honor of deceased family members, and ended on February 21 with a public celebration known as the Feralia. This was the day on which offerings and gifts were placed on the graves of the deceased and the anniversary of the funeral feast was celebrated. The Feralia was similar to the later Christian holiday, All Souls' Day. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: lemonpip - An apple seed or lemon seed is a pip. More... citrus, citron - Latin citrus signified the citron, an Asian tree with lemonlike fruit; citron is a French derivative of citrus, coined on the model of French limon, "lemon." More... lemon sole - Actually a type of flounder—not sole—it has nothing to do with lemon other than it is pale-yellow in color; the name derives from French limande, "flatfish." More... muddle - To muddle a lemon is to lightly mash slices to release the essential oils. More... | |