Daily Content Archive
(as of Wednesday, February 3, 2021)Word of the Day | |||||||
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squirm
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Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Using Prepositions with AdjectivesPrepositions can sometimes appear after adjectives to complete or elaborate on the ideas or emotions the adjective describes. Prepositions used in this way are known as "adjective complements." In such sentences, where is the preposition always positioned in relation to the adjective? More... |
Article of the Day | |
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Antarctic IcefishAs the dominant fish species in the perpetually cold waters surrounding Antarctica, icefish are notable for the unique physical adaptations that allow them to live where they do. The temperature of saltwater can drop below the freezing point of freshwater without solidifying, so icefish have evolved a type of glycoprotein antifreeze in their bodily fluids. Some icefish have demineralized bones that make them more buoyant than others. How are some icefish able to survive without red blood cells? More... |
This Day in History | |
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Australia's Last Execution (1967)In the 16 years leading up to the execution of Ronald Ryan for the killing of a guard during a prison break, every single death sentence in Victoria, Australia—35 in all—had been commuted to life in prison. By then, two Australian states had abolished capital punishment for murder, and many in Victoria were under the impression that it had done the same. The decision to carry out Ryan's execution was widely protested. How many of the jurors who had convicted Ryan later petitioned on his behalf? More... |
Today's Birthday | |
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Hugo Junkers (1859)Junkers was a pioneering German engineer who held many patents for his original developments in the fields of gas engine and aircraft design. He had innovative ideas about metal airplanes and flying wings, and he put them to the test—somewhat ironically, as he was purportedly a pacifist—developing warplanes for World War I. In the lead-up to World War II, the Nazis stripped Junkers of control of his company and sentenced him to house arrest. He died soon after. What was the "Sheetmetal Donkey"? More... |
Quotation of the Day | |
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Under certain circumstances there are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea. Henry James (1843-1916) |
Idiom of the Day | |
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against the collar— Difficult, exhausting, or problematic. The phrase originates from the collar on a horse's harness, which tightens on the horse's neck when it travels uphill. Primarily heard in UK. More... |
Today's Holiday | |
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St. Blaise's Day (2023)The association of St. Blaise with the blessing of throats can be traced to a number of sources. In any case, St. Blaise, since the 6th century in the East, has been the patron saint of people who suffer from throat afflictions, and celebrations on this day in the Roman Catholic Church often include the blessing of throats by the priest. In Spain, they bake small loaves, called tortas de San Blas ("San Blas's loaves"). They are blessed during Mass, and each child eats a bit to prevent him or her from choking during the year. More... |
Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: proofevidence, proof - Evidence—from Latin e-, "out," and videre, "to see"— is information that helps form a conclusion; proof is factual information that verifies a conclusion. More... proof in the pudding - A shortening of the saying "the proof of the pudding is in the eating," i.e. a thing is tested by putting it to its intended use. More... proof - The strength of alcohol. More... adduce - To cite as an instance or as proof or evidence. More... |