Daily Content Archive
(as of Sunday, November 4, 2018)| Word of the Day | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
|---|---|
Understanding Compound NounsA compound noun is a noun consisting of two or more words working together as a single unit to name a person, place, or thing. Generally, the first word in the compound noun tells us what kind of person or thing it is or what purpose he, she, or it serves, while the second word does what? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
|---|---|
 Sea SnakesInhabiting the tropical waters of the Indian and Pacific oceans, sea snakes can sometimes be found swarming by the thousands. Oarlike tails help them swim and a specialized lung and valved nostrils allow them to remain submerged for up to eight hours. There are more than 50 species of sea snake, all of which are venomous. Their venom quickly immobilizes small fish and other prey; however, they are not aggressive and rarely attack humans. Almost all sea snakes are ovoviviparous, which means what? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
|---|---|
.jpg) "Genie" the Feral Child Discovered by California Authorities (1970)One of the worst known cases of child abuse and social isolation in American history is that of "Genie," a girl forced to spend the first 13 years of her life alone in her bedroom, most of the time strapped to a potty chair. She was never spoken to and was apparently beaten if she attempted to speak. By the time she was discovered by authorities, she was nearly mute—her vocabulary consisted of about 20 words and a few short phrases. What did experts hope to learn by studying Genie? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
|---|---|
 Guido Reni (1575)Reni was an Italian painter and engraver whose style was influenced by his rival, Caravaggio. Reni was apprenticed to Flemish painter Denis Calvaert as a boy and by 23 had been commissioned by the government to execute decorative frescoes for the facade of the Palazzo Pubblico. Shortly thereafter, he made the first of his many trips to Rome, where he executed many important commissions, including the celebrated ceiling fresco Aurora. What are some of Reni's other well-known works? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
|---|---|
 I've never any pity for conceited people, because I think they carry their comfort about with them.George Eliot (1819-1880) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
|---|---|
keep schtum— To remain silent; to not say anything. (Used especially when by saying something, especially at the wrong time, one would cause trouble or difficulty for him- or herself.) Primarily heard in UK. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
|---|---|
 Rogers Day (2024)The birthday of Will Rogers, America's "cowboy philosopher," is observed in Oklahoma, where he was born on November 4, 1879. After his first appearance as a vaudeville entertainer in 1905 at Madison Square Garden, he developed a widespread reputation as a humorist. He went on to become a writer, a radio performer, and a motion-picture star. His birthday was first observed in 1947, with a celebration at the Will Rogers Memorial near the town of Claremore. Beneath the statue of Rogers at the memorial is the statement for which he is best remembered: "I never met a man I didn't like." More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
|---|---|
Today's topic: remembermoment - To have a moment is to suddenly forget where you are and what's going on; it is also called a bristlecone or a senior moment. More... absence of mind - The failure to remember what one is doing. More... brain cloud - The temporary inability to think properly, or to remember something. More... souvenir - Literally French for "remember," from Latin subvenire, "occur to the mind." More... | |