Daily Content Archive
(as of Friday, December 21, 2018)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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plenteous
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Irregular Comparative AdverbsJust as there are irregular adverbs, there are irregular comparative adverbs. "Well" is an example of an irregular comparative adverb. What are some others? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 The NarwhalFound in the Arctic and North Atlantic Oceans, the narwhal is small whale known for the single, tightly spiraled tusk—up to 9 ft (2.7 m) long—that protrudes from the upper jaw of males as well as some females of the species. The tusk is an overgrown, nerve-rich incisor tooth and may be used as a sense organ or to attract mates. Now hunted by native peoples for its meat, the narwhal was formerly killed for its tusk, which was believed to have magical properties and was sold for centuries as what? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Marie and Pierre Curie Discover Radium (1898)Scientists Marie and Pierre Curie were working with pitchblende, a heavy mineral known to contain the radioactive element uranium, when they noticed something unusual. Somehow, the pitchblende was more radioactive than the uranium it contained. The culprit was radium, a previously unknown element present in pitchblende only in trace amounts—yet more than a million times more radioactive than uranium. What common household products contained radium until it was discovered to be dangerous? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Florence Griffith Joyner, AKA FloJo (1959)"FloJo" was a US sprinter whose incredible speed and unique fashion sense left an indelible mark on the running world. She first turned heads at the 1984 Olympics, where her silver-medal performance was nearly overshadowed by her long, painted nails and flashy racing suits. By 1988's Games, however, there was no denying her skill. She set one world record during the Olympic trials and another at the Games, where she also took three golds and a silver. Who is her similarly talented sister-in-law? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts.Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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mooch about (somewhere)— To waste time or loiter (somewhere); to spend time (somewhere) idly or listlessly. Primarily heard in UK. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Dongji (2021)In Korea, the Winter Solstice falls during the 11th lunar month. Red bean stew with glutinous rice flour balls is a favorite seasonal dish, particularly on Dongji. This food is not only eaten as a means of warding off disease—it is also offered to the family ancestors, spread around the front door or gate of the house, and, throughout the year, prepared and taken to people who are in mourning. The color red is traditionally thought to repel evil spirits and all misfortune. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: specializingcreperie - A restaurant specializing in crepes. More... abandannad - A pickpocket specializing in bandannas or handkerchiefs. More... cinematheque - A small movie theater specializing in art or classic films. More... academic press - Also called a university press; a publishing house associated with a university or other scholarly institution, specializing in the publication of scholarly books and journals, particularly works written by its faculty. More... | |