Daily Content Archive
(as of Tuesday, March 26, 2019)Word of the Day | |||||||
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nyctalopia
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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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TwelversShi'ism is the second largest denomination of Islam after Sunnism, and within Shi'ism, Twelvers, or Ithna 'Ashariyyah, form the largest school. Twelvers derive their name from their belief in a succession of 12 divinely ordained leaders—imams—beginning with Ali ibn Abu Talib, the fourth caliph and son-in-law of Muhammad. The last of these 12 imams was Muhammad al-Mahdi al-Hujjah, who disappeared in 873 is thought by believers to be alive, hidden by God. When is he expected to reappear? 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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Here is true immorality: ignorance and stupidity; the devil is nothing but this. Gustave Flaubert (1821-1880) |
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... |