Daily Content Archive
(as of Tuesday, September 15, 2020)| Word of the Day | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
mincing
| |||||||
| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
|---|---|
Constructing Negative Interrogative SentencesAs with all negative sentences, we generally form the negative interrogative by adding the word "not." How do we know where to put "not" in the sentence? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
|---|---|
 Albertus MagnusMagnus was a 13th-century Dominican bishop regarded as one of the greatest German philosophers and theologians of the Middle Ages. He taught Thomas Aquinas, was a major Aristotelian scholar and commentator, and wrote prolifically on myriad subjects. Extraordinarily well-read, he possessed an encyclopedic knowledge of a vast array of scientific and philosophical disciplines. Various legends portray him as a magician or alchemist. His refusal to ride horses earned him what affectionate nickname? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
|---|---|
 Steam Locomotive John Bull Operates for the First Time (1831)The John Bull is a steam locomotive that ran on the Camden and Amboy Railroad, the first railroad built in New Jersey. Retired in 1866, the locomotive was acquired by the Smithsonian in 1885 and became the oldest operable steam locomotive in the world in 1981, when it was operated in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of its first use. Though its official name was Stevens, crews began calling it John Bull, and the name eventually stuck. What made them choose that name? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
|---|---|
 Porfirio Díaz (1830)Díaz supported Benito Juárez in Mexico's war against the French, but when he lost to Juárez in the 1871 presidential election, Díaz charged fraud and led a revolt. After losing again in 1876, he led another revolt and became president. Though his rule was ruthless, it saw financial stability and the expansion of railroads and telegraph lines. The Mexican Revolution was launched in 1910 to end his dictatorship, and he fled to Europe and died in exile. As a teen, what had Díaz trained to become? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
|---|---|
 There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power.Washington Irving (1783-1859) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
|---|---|
have a light heart— To have a carefree, uplifted attitude; to be in a happy or gladdened state or condition. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
|---|---|
 Honduras Independence Day (2024)Honduras joined four other Central American countries—Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Nicaragua—in declaring independence from Spain on September 15, 1821. Independence Day is a national holiday and festivities are especially colorful in the capital city of Tegucigalpa. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
|---|---|
Today's topic: replyriposte - A counterstroke, such as a snappy retort, from Italian riposta, "reply, response." More... antapology - The reply to an apology, such as "That's all right." More... irrespondence - People not answering your e-mails? That's irrespondence! (Failure to reply.) More... | |