Daily Content Archive
(as of Wednesday, November 17, 2021)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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parry
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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The Present Indicative vs. the Future IndicativeThe present indicative describes things that are happening, are about to happen, or are believed to be happening. What does the future indicative describe? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 GacheFor many centuries, Korean socialites have worn the gache, an elaborate wig decorated with precious jewels and metals. Such wigs were once considered required attire for brides, but their expense was so great that some families had to save for years to obtain one. The opulence of the gache prompted King Jeongjo to ban it in the late 18th century, but not everyone complied. According to one account, a young bride died because her heavy gache broke her neck. How much does such a wig usually weigh? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 First Attempted Assassination of Umberto I of Italy (1878)The son of Victor Emmanuel II, Umberto I was king of Italy from 1878 to 1900. Increasingly authoritarian, he favored imperialistic and pro-German policies and disregarded the recommendations of parliamentary leaders. His orientation helped lead to the conclusion of the Triple Alliance. Facing increasing social unrest, he supported the imposition of martial law and created a period of turmoil that culminated in three attempts on his life. He survived the first two. Who was the third assassin? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Isamu Noguchi (1904)Noguchi was a prominent American sculptor. After briefly studying medicine, he won two Guggenheim fellowships that allowed him to study in Paris under renowned modern artist Constantin Brancusi. In his work in stone, wood, and metal, Noguchi integrated European modernism with Japanese traditionalism, harmonizing rough and smooth, geometric and organic. Among his diverse artistic creations are playgrounds, sculpture gardens, ballet sets, and furniture. With which inventor did he collaborate? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 A good man is a man who is good to us, and a bad man is a man who doesn't do what we want him to.Jerome K. Jerome (1859-1927) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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lay down and die— To quit; to give up hope or ambition. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Queen Elizabeth's Day (2024)This is the day on which Queen Elizabeth I ascended to the throne in 1558 upon the death of her sister, Queen Mary I. The anniversary of her coronation was celebrated for more than 300 years after her reign ended, primarily as a holiday for those working in government offices. After the Gunpowder Plot was exposed in 1605, two years following Elizabeth's death, the day was marked by anti-papal demonstrations, which included burning the pope in effigy. Queen Elizabeth's Day eventually merged with the celebration of Guy Fawkes Day. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: scrapmammock - A scrap, shred, or piece that is torn or broken off. More... riffraff - Rif/riff, "spoil, strip," and raf, "carry off," combined as rif et raf in French, then went to English as riff and raff, "everything, every scrap," and then riffraff. More... scrip - Can be a scrap of paper with writing on it. More... tatter - A scrap of cloth, from Old Norse totrar, "rags"; often used as tatters. More... | |