Daily Content Archive
(as of Friday, October 23, 2020)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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panjandrum
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Defining Irrealis MoodsThe term irrealis means "unreal," and it refers to grammatical moods that reflect what is not actually the case. What are the two irrealis moods in English? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 PanchatantraThe Panchatantra is a collection of fables that are among the most widely-known animal stories in the world. The original Sanskrit work, now lost, may have been written down in India as early as 100 BCE. It then spread throughout the ancient world. A textbook created for instructing the three sons of a king, it contains morals that glorify shrewdness over altruism. One story concerns a war between crows and owls. When a crow defects to join the owls and is accepted by them, what happens? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 The Battle of Edgehill (1642)The Battle of Edgehill was the first major engagement of the English Civil War, fought between the Royalist army of King Charles I and the Parliamentarians. The battle ended in a draw, and its inconclusive result prevented either faction from gaining a quick victory in the war, which eventually resulted in the execution of the king and the establishment of a republican commonwealth. What did a group of Parliamentarian troops under Faithfull Fortescue do when the Royalists charged them? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 John William "Johnny" Carson (1925)Two years after a 12-year-old Carson sent away for a magic kit, "The Great Carsoni" gave his first performance. He continued his show business career by working as a radio announcer and television comedy writer and went on to host several television quiz shows from 1955 to 1962. He first appeared on The Tonight Show in 1958. He was permanent host from 1962 to 1992, and his personable demeanor and wry humor made it America's most popular late-night program. How many times was he married? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 No affectation of peculiarity can conceal a commonplace mind.W. Somerset Maugham (1874-1965) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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cast in concrete— Firmly or permanently established; not subject to change; unalterable. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Hungary Republic Day (2024)In Hungary, Republic Day and the 1956 Revolution are celebrated on October 23 and originally commemorated the 1956 uprising against Soviet control. On October 23, 1989, in honor of the previous revolution, Hungarians established a new republic, amending the constitution to allow multiparty politics, public assembly, and create separation of power in the government. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: skirtbustle - A stuffed pad or cushion worn under the skirt of a woman's dress, it had a synonym of "dress-improver." More... kick pleat - The slit in the back of a skirt or coat that allows more freedom of movement. More... A-line - A dress or skirt shaped like an A, created by Christian Dior. More... skirt - The ice cream at the base of a scoop of ice cream in a cone. More... | |