Daily Content Archive
(as of Saturday, May 28, 2022)Word of the Day | |||||||
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schism
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Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Primary Auxiliary VerbsThe "primary" auxiliary verbs are "be," "have," and "do"—they occur most commonly in English. "Be" and "have" are used as auxiliaries to conjugate the continuous, perfect, and perfect continuous tenses. How is "do" used? More... |
Article of the Day | |
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Maple SyrupA popular topping for pancakes, waffles, French toast, and the like, maple syrup comes from the sap of sugar maple and black maple trees. In springtime, taps inserted in the trees begin flowing with sap, which is collected, strained, and concentrated by boiling. Native Americans were the first to prepare syrup from maple sap, using hot rocks or freezing to concentrate the sap. They shared their methods with arriving colonists—and the rest is history. What is produced by boiling down maple syrup? More... |
This Day in History | |
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The Battle of Halys (585 BCE)Also known as the Battle of the Eclipse, the Battle of Halys was fought between the Medes and the Lydians in 585 BCE at the Halys River in what is now Turkey. The final battle of a 15-year war between Alyattes II of Lydia and Cyaxares of Media, the fight ended abruptly due to a total solar eclipse, which was perceived as an omen that the gods wanted the war to end. After a truce, the river was declared the border of the two nations. How is the exact date of the ancient battle known? More... |
Today's Birthday | |
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Carl Larsson (1853)Larsson was a popular and imaginative Swedish illustrator and painter whose watercolors, particularly of his family and home, became popular worldwide. He is perhaps best known, however, for his last monumental work, Midvinterblot, or "Midwinter Sacrifice," a large oil painting depicting a scene from Norse mythology. Considered Sweden's most debated painting, it was commissioned by the National Museum in Stockholm but was rejected by the board upon its completion. Where does it now hang? More... |
Quotation of the Day | |
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I believe there are more instances of the abridgement of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations. James Madison (1751-1836) |
Idiom of the Day | |
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all bark and no bite— Full of talk that is more threatening or impressive than that which one can or will actually do. More... |
Today's Holiday | |
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Chestertown Tea Party Festival (2023)When news of the British Boston Port Act reached Chestertown, Maryland, a group of local residents boarded the brigantine Geddes and dumped the tea in the Chester River. Every year during the Chestertown Tea Party Festival, the rebellion is reenacted. The crowd winds its way down High Street to the river, where the "colonists" board a ship and throw its cargo of tea into the river. Other festival events include a colonial parade, exhibits and demonstrations of 18th-century American crafts, clog dancing, horse-and-carriage rides, and tall ship cruises. More... |
Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: sailorshurrah, hurray, hooray - Hurrah, hurray, and hooray are alterations of huzza, a sailor's cheer. More... jumper - First a loose jacket worn by sailors, from jump, "a short coat." More... put through the hoop - An ancient marine phrase for a punishment for sailors involving an iron hoop. More... smart money - A phrase meaning money bet by those in the know, originating in 1926; earlier than that, it meant "money paid to sailors, soldiers, workers, etc., who have been disabled while on the job." More... |