Daily Content Archive
(as of Tuesday, November 17, 2020)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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legerity
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Defining Light VerbsLight verbs are verbs that do not carry unique meaning on their own, but instead rely on another word or words that follow them to become meaningful. What are light verbs also known as? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 The Serpent MoundLocated in rural Adams County, Ohio, the Serpent Mound is an effigy of a snake built into the earth. Believed to have been created around 1070 CE, the curving, grassy mound is about 1,330 feet (405 m) long and about 3 feet (1 m) high. Though scholars originally attributed the mound to the Adena culture, the effigy has more recently been dated to the time of the Fort Ancient culture. It is still unclear who built it, or why. What unusual event might have prompted the building of the mound? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Elizabeth I Becomes Queen of England and Ireland (1558)King Henry VIII of England died nine years after the birth of his much-desired male heir, Edward VI. However, Edward died at the age of 15, and his chosen successor—his cousin, Lady Jane Grey—was beheaded after a nine-day rule. Jane was succeeded by Henry VIII's eldest daughter, whose turbulent five-year-reign earned her the nickname "Bloody Mary." Mary died childless, and the crowning of her half-sister, Elizabeth, marked the beginning of an era of stability. How long did Elizabeth reign? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Lee Strasberg (1901)Strasberg was an American theatrical director, teacher, and actor. Expanding upon the teachings of Konstantin Stanislavsky, Strasberg developed the practice of "method acting," in which actors use their own emotional memories as dramatic motivation. As director of the elite Actors Studio in New York City, he trained actors such as Marlon Brando, Marilyn Monroe, and Dustin Hoffman. He had a profound influence on American theater and film. What news did he receive on the day before he died? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 All truly great art is optimistic. The individual artist is happy in his creative work. The fact that practically all great art is tragic does not in any way change the above thesis.Upton Sinclair (1878-1968) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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a kick at the can— An opportunity to do, try, or achieve something. Primarily heard in Canada. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Marshall Islands President's Day (2020)The Republic of the Marshall Islands has designated November 17 as President's Day, a day to remember the nation's first president, Amata Kabua. Kabua started his career as a school teacher and rose to become paramount chief of the Island of Majuro and head of state of the Marshall Islands. He served five terms as president of the Marshall Islands, beginning in 1979 when the country became independent and continuing until his death in 1996. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: lapis lazuliazure stone - Another name for the lapis lazuli. More... lapis lazuli - A sky-blue semiprecious stone, it is pronounced lap-us-LAY-zuh-lee. More... sapphire - From Greek sappheiros, "lapis lazuli" or "blue stone." More... ultramarine - First a blue pigment made from lapis lazuli, imported from Asia by sea, so, in Latin, it was ultramarinus, "beyond the seas." More... | |