Daily Content Archive
(as of Wednesday, May 23, 2018)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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buttonhole
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Articles Used with Vowel Sounds vs. Consonant SoundsWe use the indefinite article "a" when it precedes a word beginning with a consonant sound. Which article do we use before a word beginning with a vowel sound? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 FisticuffsAlternately known as fisticuffs, bare-knuckle boxing is the original form of boxing and involves two combatants fighting without gloves or padding on their hands. Though closely related to ancient combat sports, it differs from street fighting in that there are specific rules that participants must observe, such as not striking an opponent who is already down. John L. Sullivan, who won a 75-round match in 1889, was one of the last great bare-knuckle boxers. Who are some other notable pugilists? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Explorer I Ceases Transmission (1958)Following the launch of the Soviet satellite Sputnik I in October 1957, there was a frenzied effort by the US to launch a satellite of its own, beginning the so-called Space Race. Launched in January 1958 as part of the US program for the International Geophysical Year project, Explorer-I was the first Earth satellite of the US. It contributed to the discovery of the Van Allen Belts but stopped transmission of data when its batteries died in 1958. It remained in orbit, however, for how long? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Elias Ashmole (1617)Ashmole was a celebrated English archaeologist and antiquary who donated most of his collection of artifacts and curiosities to the University of Oxford in 1677 to create the Ashmolean Museum, the first such public institution in England. Though most of Ashmole's acquisitions focused on the study of nature, he was also interested in mysticism and was a student of astrology and alchemy. What anagrammatic pseudonym did Ashmole use to publish an anthology of alchemical writings in 1650? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 I am tempted to think that to be despised by her sex is a very great compliment to a woman.William Makepeace Thackeray (1811-1863) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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advanced in years— Of an older age. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 National Family Month (2023)National Family Month is observed during the five-week period between Mother's Day in May and Father's Day in June. It was started by KidsPeace, a private, not-for-profit organization. The organization believes that such observances provide opportunities for parents, grandparents, and caregivers to be more involved in the lives of the children for whom they are responsible. Families are urged to spend time doing things together during this five-week period, whether it is taking a family vacation or simply doing chores around the house. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: measuredApgar score - A measure of a baby's well-being taking into consideration respiratory effort, skin color, heart rate, muscle tone, and sense of smell (named for American anesthesiologist Virginia Apgar). More... datum line - The horizontal or base line, from which the heights of points are reckoned or measured, as in the plan of a railway, etc. More... scantling - Means "measured or prescribed size" or a "set of standard dimensions." More... military time - Time measured on a 24-hour scale of 0100-2400 hours. More... | |