Daily Content Archive
(as of Sunday, March 21, 2021)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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combatant
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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The Infinitive Mood and the Emphatic MoodThere are two sub-categories that are sometimes described as moods in different grammar guides: the "infinitive mood" and the "emphatic mood." The "infinitive mood" merely refers to a verb being put into its infinitive form—that is, the base form with the particle "to." What is the "emphatic mood"? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 The Official Languages of IndiaIndia is a land of great cultural diversity, as evidenced by the enormous number of languages spoken there. Though the primary official language of India is Hindi, more than 1,500 languages and dialects are spoken throughout the country, and many of them have acquired varying degrees of government recognition and protection, whether for use as official regional languages or simply to guarantee the rights of speakers. In what particular region of India is French an official language? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Alcatraz Closes (1963)Alcatraz, a rocky island in western California's San Francisco Bay, served as a federal prison housing the country's most dangerous criminals from 1934 to 1963. It became a National Recreation Area in 1972, and by the mid-1990s, it was attracting almost a million visitors a year. Nicknamed "The Rock," Alcatraz was a symbol of the impregnable maximum security fortress prison. During its 29 years of operation, 34 prisoners attempted escapes, but only three may have succeeded. Who were they? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Gary Oldman (1958)Oldman is an English actor known for playing eccentric characters and for his ability to master accents. He first appeared on screen in the 1982 film Remembrance and has since played a variety of characters including Dracula, Beethoven, and Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious. In 1997, he wrote, directed, and produced Nil By Mouth, an award-winning film reportedly based on his life. Recently, he has received acclaim for his portrayal of which character in the Harry Potter film series? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 I cannot imagine why we should be at the expense to furnish wit for succeeding ages, when the former have made no sort of provision for ours.Jonathan Swift (1667-1745) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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salt in the/(one's) wound(s)— An aggravation that makes something unpleasant, difficult, or painful even worse. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Shunbun-no-Hi (2022)In Japan, where the Vernal Equinox is a national holiday, the entire week during which the equinox occurs is called Higan, which means "other shore." The observance of Vernal Equinox Day began during the reign of 7th-century Prince Shotoku. It became a national holiday during the Meiji period. Visiting the family cemetery is popular on this day, and people tend to regard it as a happy event. Although no meat is served during the week, o-hagi, soft rice balls covered with sweetened bean paste, are popular. Shunbun-no-Hi is a day set aside to honor nature and to show respect for growing things. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: spoonruncible spoon - A three-pronged fork curved like a spoon and used as a serving utensil. More... cochleare - A spoon or spoonful of a medical prescription. More... spoon bread - Soft cornbread served with a spoon; it is also called egg bread or butter bread. More... | |