Daily Content Archive
(as of Tuesday, May 19, 2020)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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gambit
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Difference from Adverbial "There"Although the word "there" can be used as a dummy pronoun, it can also be used as an adverb; it is important to know the difference between the two. When "there" is being used as an adverb, what is its function in a sentence? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 Etruscan MythologyEtruscan civilization reached its height in the 6th century BCE in what is now Italy, and much of its religion was later adopted by the Romans. Famous for divination, the Etruscans believed that the will of the gods was present in every aspect of nature and looked for divine signs everywhere, including in lightning, the livers of sacrificed animals, and the flight of birds. What example did the Roman philosopher Seneca use to illustrate the different religious approaches of Romans and Etruscans? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 New England's Dark Day (1780)On May 19, 1780, an unusual darkening of the day sky was observed over parts of New England and Canada. The darkness was so complete that candlelight was needed as early as noon in places. Researchers examining scar damage in tree growth rings believe that a large fire in Canada's Algonquin Provincial Park contributed to the darkness, but thick fog and cloud cover likely also played a role. The episode was, and still is, interpreted by many as what kind of event? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Pol Pot (1925)One of the most infamous leaders in modern history, Pot became a Khmer Communist leader in Cambodia in the 1960s. In 1975, he proclaimed the Democratic Republic of Kampuchea and served as its premier. During his rule, one to two million people out of a total population of seven million died as a result of his ruthless pursuit of a return to "year zero" and the creation of an ethnically pure, agrarian, communist state. What happened to Pot after his rule was ended by Vietnamese invasion in 1979? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 Bashfulness is an ornament to youth, but a reproach to old age.Aristotle (384 BC-322 BC) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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accident of birth— Any and all particulars surrounding one's birth (physical characteristics, social background, and even nationality) that are considered a result of parentage and the specific circumstances of birth, and are therefore entirely out of one's control. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Malcolm X's Birthday (2023)Malcolm X (1925-1965) was an outspoken leader in the black nationalist movement of the 1960s. He converted to the Muslim faith while serving time in prison, and, upon his release, began touring the country on behalf of the Nation of Islam. During most of his career, Malcolm X advocated violence (for self-protection) and had a reputation for fanaticism and racism; however, he changed his outlook after his pilgrimage to Mecca. He was assassinated at a rally in Harlem shortly after. His birthday is still observed in most major American cities with a large African-American population. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: trousersfob - A small pocket close to the waistband of trousers. More... galluses - Another name for suspenders for trousers. More... plus fours - Got their name (c. 1920) from the fact that such trousers were made four inches longer than standard knickerbockers or shorts, which came to just above the knee. More... trousers, trouse - The singular of trousers is trouse. More... | |