Daily Content Archive
(as of Wednesday, December 5, 2018)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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ascendancy
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Defining Conjunctive Adverbs of PurposeAdverbs of purpose tell us why something happens or is the case. We often use conjunctive adverbs to indicate a relationship of reason or purpose between two independent clauses. What are some common conjunctive adverbs of purpose? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 Energy WeaponsDirected-energy weapons are those that transfer energy to a target without the use of a projectile. Types of energy used or proposed for such weapons include sound, radio, light, particles, and plasma—all of which could be used for a number of different applications, including destroying targets, causing disorientation, or disabling machinery. Although many so-called energy weapons are the stuff of science fiction, some are in development or even in limited use. What are some examples? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Great Smog Blankets London (1952)Early in December 1952, a cold fog caused Londoners to burn more coal than usual. When the resulting pollution was trapped by the dense mass of cold air, concentrations of pollutants built up dramatically. By the time it lifted, the smog had caused or advanced the deaths of thousands of people—most of whom were very young or elderly or had pre-existing respiratory problems—leading to a new focus on the dangers of air pollution. Even indoor events were cancelled during the Great Smog. Why? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Christina Rossetti (1830)Christina Rossetti was one of England's most important female poets of the Victorian era. It is little wonder that she became a poet, given her lineage. Her great-grandfather was a poet, her grandfather was a writer and scholar, and her father was the famous poet and scholar Gabriele Rossetti. Her three siblings followed similar paths. Religious themes dominate her poems, which run the gamut from romantic to devotional to children's poetry. What popular Christmas carol did she pen? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 A national debt, if it is not excessive, will be to us a national blessing.Alexander Hamilton (1755-1804) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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mess of pottage— Something of little, trivial, or no value but which appears to be attractive or valuable on first reckoning. An allusion to Esau in Genesis 25:29–32, who sells to Jacob his birthright to his family's estate for a bowl of lentil stew (pottage). More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development (2021)In 1985, the United Nations established December 5 as International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development. The Assembly hoped that in so doing, it would draw favorable attention to the contribution made by volunteers, and thus inspire more people to serve the world community as volunteers. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: jointfishplate - A type of metal plate used to strengthen a joint (from fish, meaning "mend"). More... seam - Etymologically, a joint made by sewing. More... ankylosis - Stiffness or immobility in a joint. More... arthralgia, arthritis - Arthralgia is pain in a joint, from Greek arthron, "joint," which also gives us the word arthritis. More... | |