Daily Content Archive
(as of Sunday, January 27, 2019)| Word of the Day | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
pertinacious
| |||||||
| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
|---|---|
MoodGrammatical mood refers to the way in which a verb is used to express certain meaning by the speaker or writer. Moods are broken down into two main categories. What are they? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
|---|---|
 Language of the BirdsIn mythology, medieval literature, and occultism, the language of the birds is often considered a divine or magical language used by birds to communicate with the initiated. A wide variety of historical references to the language of birds exists: Solomon's wisdom is attributed to it, and Aesop, the legendary Greek fabulist, is said to have understood it. In Norse mythology, ravens keep the god Odin apprised of events on Earth. What beast’s blood is said to confer the ability to understand birds? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
|---|---|
 Song Dynasty General Yue Fei Is Executed (1142)One of China's greatest generals and patriotic heroes, Yue helped establish a southern foothold for the Song dynasty while preventing the advance of the Juchen, who had taken the former Song capital in the north. However, his attempt to recapture the lost territory was opposed by one of the emperor's counselors, who earned a reputation as a traitor for relinquishing the north to the Juchen and having Yue executed. According to legend, what phrase did Yue's mother tattoo across his back? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
|---|---|
 Soong Ch'ing-ling (1893)Born to an influential Chinese family, Soong was educated in the US. She returned to China, became prominent in revolutionary politics, and married Sun Yat-sen, a revolutionary 26 years her senior now known as the father of modern China. She and her sisters—along with their husbands, including Chiang Kai-shek—became some of the most significant political figures in the Communist government, with Soong becoming vice chair after Sun's death. What magazine, still in publication, did she found? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
|---|---|
 Pathos, piety, courage,—they exist, but are identical, and so is filth. Everything exists, nothing has value.E. M. Forster (1879-1970) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
|---|---|
keep out of sight— To remain unseen, as by hiding or evasion. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
|---|---|
 Birthday of Mozart (2021)Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in Salzburg, Austria, on this day in 1756. His achievements in composing operas, chamber music, symphonies, and piano concerti have earned him a reputation as one of the greatest musical geniuses of all time. Mozart's birthday is observed by musical societies all over the world, who often give concerts of his music on this day. The city of his birth also honors him at the end of January with Mozart Week. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
|---|---|
Today's topic: kilnhovel - A conical building enclosing a kiln. More... oast - A kiln used to dry hops or malt or tobacco. More... battledore - Can refer to various tools, such as the paddle of a canoe or a utensil for inserting loaves into an oven or wares into a kiln. More... china - Comes from Persian chini, for the delicate and valuable ware first made in China; the word describes pieces made from certain kinds of clay that have been glazed, usually decorated, and fired in a kiln at high temperatures. More... | |