Daily Content Archive
(as of Saturday, December 1, 2018)| Word of the Day | |||
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Superlative Adverbs from Adverbs Ending in "-ly"Many adverbs are formed by adding "-ly" to the end of an adjective. If an adverb has been created according to this pattern, what two words can we use to make the superlative form? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 TheobromineClosely related to caffeine, theobromine is a toxic alkaloid found in cocoa, chocolate products, tea, and cola nuts. Also known as xantheose, it is bitter and colorless and acts as a diuretic, vasodilator, cardiac stimulant, and smooth muscle relaxant. Despite its name, the compound contains no bromine—a corrosive, toxic liquid element. Rather, its name is derived from the genus of the cacao tree, Theobroma, which is made up of the Greek roots theo and broma and means what? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Portuguese Restoration War Begins (1640)Following the death of Henry, the cardinal-king of Portugal, in 1580, Philip II of Spain assumed control of Portugal by force of arms. The "Spanish captivity" lasted for 60 years. Finally, in 1640, the Portuguese took advantage of Philip IV's preoccupation with a rebellion in Catalonia and revolted. The Portuguese dethroned him and reclaimed independence for Portugal. Undeterred, Philip fought for decades to regain control of Portugal. When did Spain finally recognize Portugal's independence? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Louis Allen "Lou" Rawls (1933)Rawls was an American soul, jazz, and blues singer known for his smooth vocal style. He began singing in his church choir at the age of seven and later sang with local Chicago groups. Though he was pronounced dead after a severe car accident in 1958 that left him in a coma for several days, he recovered and went on to enjoy a successful career, winning multiple Grammy Awards and selling more than 40 million records. Who once credited Rawls with having the "silkiest chops in the singing game"? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 In time we hate that which we often fear.William Shakespeare (1564-1616) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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lightning quick— (hyphenated if used before a noun) Incredibly fast; too quick to keep up with. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Central African Republic Independence Day (2024)On December 1, 1958, the region now known as Central African Republic became a republic within the French Community. The republic achieved independence from France on August 13, 1960. Both days are celebrated as national holidays. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: pancasserole - Came from casse, "pan" or "ladle," which probably comes from Greek kuathos, "serving cup"; casserole is a diminutive of casse, "spoonlike container" (cassette is also a diminutive of casse). More... paella - The rice dish is Spanish for "frying pan," from Latin patella, "little pan." More... pan, brain pan - The upper part of the skull has been called the pan or brain pan. More... | |