Daily Content Archive
(as of Friday, March 26, 2021)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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shrivel
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Forming ContractionsWhen two words are combined to form a contraction, we use an apostrophe as a substitute for the letter or letters that are removed as a result. Most commonly, it is the second word in the group that is shortened. What is this shortened word known as? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 Society of United IrishmenFounded in Belfast in 1791 by Theobald Wolfe Tone—who was frustrated by the use of the English patronage to control Irish politics—the Society of United Irishmen was ostensibly dedicated to legislative reform. From the outset, however, it harbored an undercurrent of revolutionary sentiment encouraged by the French Revolution. The movement spread rapidly throughout Ireland and was forced underground in 1794. Eventually, it sparked a rebellion. Tone escaped hanging by taking what extreme measure? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Bangladesh Liberation War Begins (1971)The Bangladesh Liberation War was fought between West Pakistan and East Pakistan—now Pakistan and Bangladesh, respectively. It began as an uprising in East Pakistan led by a guerilla force called the Mukti Bahini. Indian support bolstered the Bangladeshi rebellion and led to a separate but simultaneous war between India and Pakistan. Eventually, West Pakistan's forces were defeated and East Pakistan gained its independence, becoming the new nation of Bangladesh. Why did India support the rebels? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Tennessee Williams (1911)One of America's foremost 20th-century playwrights and the author of more than 70 plays, Tennessee Williams achieved his first successes with The Glass Menagerie and A Streetcar Named Desire, for which he won the Pulitzer Prize in 1948. Noted for his scenes of high dramatic tension and brilliant, often lyrical dialogue, Williams received a Tony Award for 1950's The Rose Tattoo and won another Pulitzer in 1955 for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. What was his real first name? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 Time dissipates to shining ether the solid angularity of facts.Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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dead asleep— In a deep, immovable sleep. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Bangladesh Independence Day (2023)This public holiday celebrates the declaration of independence of the state of Bangladesh on March 26, 1971. When India gained independence from Britain in 1947, the region that is now Bangladesh became East Pakistan, and was governed together with West Pakistan as one country. By early 1971, differences between East and West Pakistan had led to war. When India entered the war in November, independence was assured. Bangladeshis observe this national holiday in the capital city of Dhaka with memorial ceremonies, a boat race on the Buriganga river, and other festivities. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: hosthost - One of its early senses was "army." More... harbinger - Originally, one who provided lodging or acted as a host. More... table d' hote, prix fixe - Table d' hote, literally "table of the host," is a complete meal with specified courses for a set price—and means the same as prix fixe. More... French leave - Comes from the French custom of leaving a ball or dinner without saying goodbye to the host or hostess. More... | |