Daily Content Archive
(as of Friday, July 19, 2019)| Word of the Day | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
treacly
| |||||||
| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
|---|---|
Indicating Possession in Non-Plural Words and Names Ending in "-s"There are two ways that we can indicate possession in non-plural words and names that end in "-s". Some writers prefer to treat them like plurals and simply add an apostrophe to the end, leaving out the second "-s." Other writers choose to add a second "-s" after the apostrophe to create the usual singular possessive form. As both forms are generally accepted, how do many writers choose between them? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
|---|---|
 Naming TabooIn China, the naming taboo is a cultural taboo against speaking or writing the given names of exalted persons. In the past, the taboo especially discouraged the use of the emperor's given name and those of his ancestors. For example, during the Qin dynasty, Qin Shi Huang's given name Zheng was avoided, and the first month of the year, "Zheng Yue," was renamed "Duan Yue." In 1777, lexicographer Wang Xihou wrote the full name of the Qianlong emperor in his dictionary. What was his punishment? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
|---|---|
 Mary I Begins Reign as Queen of England (1553)After King Henry VIII divorced her mother, Catherine of Aragon, and married Anne Boleyn, Mary was declared illegitimate and lost her place in the line of succession. In 1553, her granddaughter, Lady Jane Grey, was deposed following a nine-day reign, and Mary—restored to the line of succession in 1544—became queen. She restored Roman Catholicism to England, but the resulting persecution of Protestants and the execution of some 300 heretics earned her the hatred of her subjects and what nickname? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
|---|---|
 Samuel Colt (1814)Colt patented his revolving-breech pistol in 1836, but the six-shooter was slow to gain acceptance, and his company failed in 1842. However, a US government order for 1,000 pistols during the Mexican War allowed Colt to resume its manufacture in 1847. Colt advanced the development of interchangeable parts and the assembly line, and his revolvers, including the famous Colt .45, became so popular that the word "Colt" was sometimes used as a generic term for any revolver. What else did Colt invent? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
|---|---|
 Love is influenced by no consideration, recognizes no restraints of reason, and is of the same nature as death, that assails alike the lofty palaces of kings and the humble cabins of shepherds; and when it takes entire possession of a heart, the first thing it does is to banish fear and shame from it.Miguel de Cervantes (1547-1616) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
|---|---|
a sobering thought— A thought or idea which is dispiriting, depressing, or traumatic. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
|---|---|
 Myanmar Martyrs' Day (2023)On July 19, 1947, Aung San and six of his cabinet members, including his older brother, were assassinated during an Executive Council meeting. His political adversary, U Saw, was found guilty of participating in the assassinations and was later executed for his part in the killings. July 19 has been declared Martyr's Day, a national holiday on which the people of Myanmar remember their slain leader Aung San. On this day, the country holds a moment of silence, and a ceremony is held as family members of Aung San and the other assassinated cabinet members lay wreaths on their tombs. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
|---|---|