Daily Content Archive
(as of Tuesday, February 28, 2017)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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rampart
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Primary Auxiliary VerbsThe "primary" auxiliary verbs are "be," "have," and "do"—they occur most commonly in English. What is the emphatic "do"? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 HussarsHussars originated in 15th-century Hungary as a light-horse corps, but the term now applies to members of various light cavalry regiments in European armies, renowned for their elegant dress. The brilliantly colored Hungarian hussar's uniform consisted of a high cylindrical cap, a jacket with heavy braiding, and a loose coat worn hanging from the left shoulder. Several hussar regiments of the British army survive today as armored units. What were the original meanings of the word "hussar"? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 The Family Circus Cartoon Debuts (1960)When The Family Circus debuted in 1960, the characters were about the same age as artist Bil Keane and his family. In the more than 50 years of cartoons that followed, the characters did not age appreciably, but their real-life counterparts did—Jeff Keane, the basis for 3-year-old Jeffy, went on to ink the cartoon for his father. The most widely syndicated cartoon panel in the world, it has appeared in 1,500 newspapers. What was the original name of the cartoon, and why did it change? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 James "Jimmy" Dorsey (1904)Dorsey was a prominent jazz musician and big band leader. He began performing as a youth, first learning the trumpet before taking up his signature instruments, the clarinet and alto saxophone. He formed several bands with his brother, and the duo became so popular that they later starred in a fictionalized film biography, The Fabulous Dorseys. After they parted ways in 1935, the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra had several number-one hits. What was the name of his first post-split hit record? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 Disobedience, in the eyes of anyone who has read history, is man's original virtue.Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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hanging offense— A crime, misdeed, or impropriety that is (hyperbolically) perceived to warrant death by hanging. Primarily heard in US. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Fiesta Day (2020)Held for more than 50 years, Fiesta Day celebrates the multicultural heritage of those who settled Ybor City, which is part of Tampa, Florida. Cuban, African-Cuban, Italian, and Jewish immigrants made Ybor City their home in the 1880s, and their influence is still felt in Tampa's Historic District, where this festival takes place. Celebrants can enjoy the diverse food, drink, music, and arts and crafts that reflect the character of Ybor City. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: reputationroorback - A false report made to damage the reputation of a political candidate. More... character, reputation - Character is what one is; reputation is what one is thought to be by others. More... denigrate - From Latin de- and nigare, "blacken," it first meant "make black or dark in color," and came to mean "blacken the reputation of." More... | |