Daily Content Archive
(as of Sunday, April 19, 2020)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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flag-waving
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Defining Predicate NounsNouns that follow linking verbs are known as "predicate nouns" (or sometimes "predicative nouns" or "predicate nominatives"). What do they serve to do? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 LazarusIn the New Testament, two apparently separate people are named Lazarus. One is raised from the dead by Jesus after having spent four days in a tomb. The other is a leper who dies at the gate of a selfish rich man, then goes to heaven. Upon his own death, the rich man arrives in hell, where, in his suffering, he begs the leper Lazarus for water. This Lazarus is the only person in a New Testament parable who is named. Though the rich man is not named, he is commonly referred to as Dives. Why? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Mae West Sentenced For Obscenity (1927)In 1926, American actress Mae West, mistress of the double entendre, began to write, produce, and star in her own Broadway plays, the first of which was the sensation-creating Sex. The notorious production did not go over well with city officials, who prosecuted West on morals charges. She served eight days of her 10-day sentence, getting off two days for good behavior. Still, the punishment did not deter her from tackling taboo subjects, as evidenced by her next play, named what? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Jayne Mansfield (1933)One of the leading sex symbols of the 1950s, Mansfield reportedly spoke five languages, played the violin, and claimed an IQ of over 150. However, the provocative image she presented to the public was carefully crafted, and she was best known for her film roles as a "blonde bombshell" and her many appearances in photographs. Her tragic death at the age of 34 in a car accident led to the mandating of underride guards on tractor-trailer trucks in the US. What well-known actress is her daughter? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 Democracy means simply the bludgeoning of the people by the people for the people.Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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a shiver down (one's) spine— A shudder felt down one's back, due to either fear, anticipation, nervousness, or excitement. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Primrose Day (2021)Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Beaconsfield, novelist, and twice prime minister of England, died on this day in 1881. When he was buried in the family vault at Hughenden Manor, near High Wycombe, Queen Victoria came to lay a wreath of primroses—thought to be his favorite flower—on his grave. Two years later, the Primrose League was formed to support the principles of Conservatism that Disraeli had championed. The organization's influence ebbed after World War I, but Primrose Day is remembered in honor of Disraeli and his contribution to the Conservative cause. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: poisonalexipharmic - Another word for an antidote, from Greek alexein, "ward off," and pharmakon, "poison." More... toxic - Comes from Greek toxikon pharmakon, "poison for arrows," from toxon, "bow." More... venom - Comes from Latin venenum, the love potion Venus used to attract people to each other—but later came to describe "poison." More... virus - A Latin word meaning "poison" or "slimy liquid," it first meant "venom of a snake." More... | |