Daily Content Archive
(as of Tuesday, January 15, 2019)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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tyrannical
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Adverbs of FrequencyAdverbs of frequency (sometimes called frequency adverbs) tell us how often something happens or is the case. They cannot be used to modify what part of speech? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 Damsel in DistressDerived from a French term meaning "young lady," the word "damsel" is rarely used in modern English except in the phrase "damsel in distress." A classic stock character in literature, art, and film, the damsel in distress is usually a young, beautiful woman placed in a dire predicament by a villain or monster. Notably, she needs a hero to rescue her, leading to stereotypes of helplessness that are often targets of feminist criticism. What are some examples of damsels in distress in modern media? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Body of Elizabeth Short—the "Black Dahlia"—Found (1947)Elizabeth Short was the victim of a gruesome and much-publicized murder that is still unsolved. Nicknamed the "Black Dahlia" by newspapers after her body was recovered in Leimert Park, Los Angeles, Short was found mutilated, her body severed at the waist. The unsolved murder has been the source of widespread speculation, leading to several books and film adaptations, as well as many false confessions and leads in the years since she was killed. From what was the "Black Dahlia" nickname derived? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Philip Livingston (1716)Livingston was a successful merchant who became an American revolutionary leader in the protests against the Stamp Act and other British trade restrictions. Although he was not originally an advocate of independence, Livingston signed the Declaration of Independence and remained an active member of the Continental Congress. He was generous with his large fortune and was a supporter of many causes, including the founding of King's College, which later became what university? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 It is an unfortunate fact that we can secure peace only by preparing for war.John F. Kennedy (1917-1963) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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too clever by half— Too contrived or arrogant in one's cleverness or intelligence, to the point of being irritating to others. Primarily heard in UK. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Suminuri Matsuri (2019)Suminuri Matsuri is a New Year tradition observed for more than half a millennium in a district of Matsunoyama, Niigata Prefecture, Japan. People adorn their homes and streets with decorations made of paper, tree branches and bamboo for Oshogatsu, New Year's Day. After the holiday, they take down the decorations and burn them, keeping the ashes for the Suminuri Festival two weeks later. People take their ashes outside and mix them with snow, then rub the concoction on each other's faces for luck in the new year. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: parentabdicate - Implies a giving up of sovereign power or the evasion of responsibility (as a parent). More... half blood - Relationship through only one parent. More... in loco parentis - Latin for "in the place of a parent." More... patrial - Means having the right to live in the UK through the British birth of a parent or grandparent. More... | |