Daily Content Archive
(as of Monday, April 3, 2023)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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jongleur
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Forming Comparative AdjectivesComparative adjectives are adjectives that compare differences between the attributes of two nouns. We form comparative adjectives either by adding "-er" to the end of the adjective, or by adding the word "more" (or "less") before the adjective. So how do we know which to choose? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 Moses MontefioreMontefiore was a famous 19th century British-Jewish philanthropist. He was connected through marriage to the famed Rothschild family and became affiliated with the family's banking business. After accumulating a fortune on the London stock exchange, he retired at age 40 to devote himself to philanthropy and to securing political and civil emancipation for Jews in England, founding a hospital and girls' school in Jerusalem in 1855. Montefiore was knighted by what queen? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 The Super Outbreak: 148 Tornadoes in 13 States (1974)The largest tornado outbreak on record for a single 24-hour period, the Super Outbreak occurred on April 3 and 4, 1974. During that time, nearly 150 tornadoes swept across 13 central and eastern US states as well as Ontario, Canada, severely damaging approximately 900 square miles (2,330 sq km) along a total combined path length of 2,600 miles (4,180 km). The outbreak brought more violent tornadoes than had ever been observed, including 23 F4 tornadoes and how many F5s? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Marlon Brando (1924)Regarded as the greatest actor of his generation and one of the most influential actors of all time, Marlon Brando was known for his naturalistic performances. He achieved fame on Broadway in A Streetcar Named Desire, later starring in the film version. Considered the foremost practitioner of the New York Actors Studio style of "method" acting, Brando earned Academy Awards for his roles in On the Waterfront and The Godfather. Why did he refuse the latter award? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 Heathen, n.: A benighted creature who has the folly to worship something that he can see and feel.Ambrose Bierce (1842-1914) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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God is in the detail(s)— Any action or plan one undertakes should be done carefully and pragmatically; attention to small details will ultimately yield the greatest results. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Guinea Second Republic Day (2023)Guinea was ruled by a dictatorship led by Sekou Touré, who ruled the small West African nation for over 25 years (1958-1984). After Touré's death, there was a bloodless coup on April 3, 1984. This ushered in what many Guineans refer to as the Second Republic, led by Lansana Conté. The observation of Second Republic Day is largely orchestrated by the government. In honor of the coup's 24th anniversary in 2008, Conté and Guinean prime minister Lansana Kouyate were guests of honor at a wreath-laying ceremony at a martyrs' memorial located in the center of Conakry, the capital city. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: torchfuneral - Once was a torchlight procession, from Latin funis, "torch"—because funerals of the Romans took place at night by torchlight. More... kindle - The verb is related to Old Norse kyndill, "candle, torch." More... Drummond light - A torch that burns calcium oxide (lime) and gives off intense white light, it was named for Scottish engineer Capt. Thomas Drummond, R.E. (1797-1840), who invented it around 1825. More... torch - From Latin torquere, it first referred to tarred twists of frayed rope. More... | |