Daily Content Archive
(as of Saturday, February 7, 2015)| Word of the Day | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
apprise
| |||||||
| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
|---|---|
Future Simple TenseThe simplest way we create the future simple tense is by using the modal verb "will" + the bare infinitive (without "to") of the main verb of the sentence. How else can the future simple tense be formed? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
|---|---|
 The History of the Jelly BeanThe jelly bean is a type of confection that has a hardened sugar coating over a chewy center. “Turkish Delight,” a Middle Eastern candy consisting of jellylike cubes covered with powdered sugar, likely inspired the gummy interior of the jelly bean. It is generally thought that jelly beans first became popular in 1861 when Boston confectioner William Schrafft urged people to send his jelly beans to soldiers during the American Civil War. When did jelly beans become associated with Easter? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
|---|---|
 The Cripple Creek Miners' Strike (1894)In 1891, gold was discovered on a cattle ranch in Cripple Creek, Colorado, creating one of the richest camps of a major gold-producing area. Two years later, the Western Federation of Miners (WFM) was established by the merger of several local miners' unions in the Rocky Mountain states. In 1894, the WFM led a five-month strike in Cripple Creek, resulting in a victory for the miners. The strike began when mine owners attempted to lengthen the work day—with no increase in pay—to how many hours? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
|---|---|
 Charles Dickens (1812)When Dickens was a boy, his father was placed in debtors' prison. As a result, he was withdrawn from school and forced to work in a factory—an experience that deeply influenced his future writings. Now regarded as one of the world's most popular, prolific, and skilled novelists, Dickens began his literary career as a reporter, developing an encyclopedic knowledge of London and the ability to vividly describe people and everyday life. How long did it take him to write A Christmas Carol? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
|---|---|
 Conscience—the only incorruptible thing about us.Henry Fielding (1707-1754) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
|---|---|
whomp up— To make quickly. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
|---|---|
 Great Sámi Winter Fair (Jokkmokksmarknad) (2019)The Sámis are a nomadic people of ancient origin who still make their living keeping reindeer herds in the northernmost regions of Norway, Sweden, and Finland, and on the Kola Peninsula of the former Soviet Union. They started holding the Winter Fair, or Market, in Jokkmokk, Sweden, more than 400 years ago. The four-day event draws many visitors who are curious about Sámi culture. It includes the marking of the reindeer, reindeer roundup demonstrations, folk music and dance, films, lectures, and the sale of special Sámi foods and handicrafts. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
|---|---|
Today's topic: surroundedinvolve - First meant "enfold, surround, wrap." More... enclave, exclave - An enclave is a group or area different from the surroundings, a secured area within another secured area, from Latin clavis, "key"; an exclave is the same thing, but usually describes a portion of a country separated from the main part and surrounded by politically alien territory. More... woebegone - Begone in woebegone means "beset" or "surrounded," so the word means "beset by woe." More... glade - Originally referred to a part of water not frozen over, but surrounded by ice, drawing an analogy to the same word for an opening in the woods. More... | |