Daily Content Archive
(as of Thursday, February 8, 2018)| Word of the Day | |||
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Prepositive AdjectivesIn simple sentences, attributive adjectives usually occur before the noun they modify, as "black" does in the example, "The black dog is barking." What are "prepositive adjectives"? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 UnicornsThough the modern unicorn is usually depicted as a majestic white horse with one long horn growing from its forehead, traditional imagery also includes a billy goat beard, lion's tail, and cloven hooves. It was highly sought after in the middle ages for its horn, which was believed to neutralize poison, and for its milk, which was thought to be an aphrodisiac. Unicorns appear in the mythology of many ancient cultures, and a unicorn-like creature is mentioned in what books of the Hebrew Bible? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 NASDAQ Stock Market Begins Trading (1971)When the NASDAQ stock exchange began trading in 1971, it was the world's first electronic stock market. Founded in New York by the National Association of Securities Dealers, NASDAQ initially existed as computer bulletin board system that did not yet connect buyers and sellers. Today, it lists more companies and has more trading volume than any other US electronic stock exchange. In 2007, NASDAQ acquired the oldest stock exchange in America for $652 million. Which exchange did NASDAQ buy? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Jules Gabriel Verne (1828)Verne was a French novelist credited with originating the modern genre of science fiction. Early on, he was interested in theater and wrote librettos for operas. Later, he drew upon his knowledge of science and geography to write romances of extraordinary journeys, which quickly became very popular. He wrote more than 50 books in his lifetime, including A Journey to the Center of the Earth and Around the World in Eighty Days. One of his books explores a five-week journey by what? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 Time has laid his healing hand upon the wound when we can look back upon the pain we once fainted under and no bitterness or despair rises in our hearts.Jerome K. Jerome (1859-1927) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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make a hole in (something)— To take, use up, or deplete a large amount of money available in something, such as a budget, one's wallet, etc. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Yaya Matsuri (2025)The Yaya Matsuri, held in Owase, Japan, during the first five days in February, features mikoshi (portable shrines) carried through the streets by groups of young men who meet and deliberately crash into each other. The festival takes its name from their shouts—"Yaya! Yaya!"—as they run into one another. Several special events, including dances, are held during the five-day festival. On the last night, there is a ceremony at the Owase Shrine to determine who will participate in the festival the next year. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: purposesall intents and purposes - A redundant phrase, created for emphasis. More... blamestorming - An intense discussion for the purposes of placing blame or assigning responsibility for a misdeed or failure. More... celebrant, celebrator, reveler - Celebrants take part in religious ceremonies; celebrators or revelers gather for purposes of revelry. More... teleology - The study of design in nature; the word's basic meaning is "the study of ends or purposes"—attempts to understand the purpose of a natural occurrence by looking at its results. More... | |