Daily Content Archive
(as of Monday, May 2, 2022)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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pendent
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Domain AdverbsWe use specific viewpoint adverbs to delimit, or specify, what part or aspect of something we are talking about. These adverbs are often called domain adverbs, and are almost limitless. "Officially" is an example of a domain adverb. What are some others? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 The Great Pyramid of GizaThe Great Pyramid of Giza, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, is the largest pyramid ever built. A mass of limestone blocks covering 13 acres (5.3 hectares), it was originally 756 feet (230 m) along each side of its base and 482 feet (147 m) high. It has several passages, two large chambers in addition to one below ground level, and two small air chambers for ventilation. It is believed to have been built as the tomb of fourth dynasty Egyptian King Khufu, who was known by what Greek name? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 First Ascent of Shishapangma (1964)Located in south-central Tibet near the border of Nepal, Shishapangma is the fourteenth highest mountain in the world and the lowest of the eight-thousanders—peaks in the Himalayan and Karakoram mountain ranges that exceed a height of 8,000 m (26,247 ft). Scaled in 1964, it was the last eight-thousander to be climbed because China imposed severe travel restrictions on foreigners at the time. It is considered one of the easiest eight-thousanders to summit; nevertheless, how many have died trying? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Athanasius Kircher (1601?)One of history's great polymaths, Kircher was a German archeologist, mathematician, biologist, astronomer, musicologist, and physicist who knew Hebrew, Aramaic, Coptic, Persian, Latin, Greek, and various modern languages. He tried to decipher one of the most ancient writing systems—Egyptian hieroglyphics—but most of his thoughts on the subject proved incorrect. An avid inventor, he built playful devices including a talking and eavesdropping statue that used a primitive intercom, and what else? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 I want a house that has got over all its troubles; I don't want to spend the rest of my life bringing up a young and inexperienced house.Jerome K. Jerome (1859-1927) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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fork over the dough— To pay, generally unwillingly, a certain amount of money. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Land Diving (Nagol) (2023)On Pentecost Island in Vanuatu, land diving, or Nagol, is a centuries-old fertility ritual and the precursor of bungee jumping. Tree branches, trunks, and vines from the forest are used to create a tower—about 85 feet tall. Facing a test of resolve and courage, island men and boys ascend the tower with liana vines. After the diver leaps off the tower, the vines stretch nearly to the ground and the diver ducks his head out of the way and lets his shoulders touch the land. During the ritual, the entire village assembles under the tower to dance, sing, and encourage the divers. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: pursuitdachshund - German for "badger hound," from its original breeding purpose to pursue a badger (etc.) that has taken refuge in a burrow. More... invite - Comes from Latin invitare, from an Indo-European root meaning "to go after something, pursue with vigor, desire." More... logology - The pursuit of word puzzles; also the science of words. More... sue - From Latin sequi, "follow," it first meant "follow, go in pursuit of." More... | |