Daily Content Archive
(as of Thursday, April 21, 2022)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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intaglio
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Irregular AdjectivesAdjectives describe a quality or characteristic of a noun or pronoun. The basic form of an adjective is sometimes known as the "positive degree." But we can also inflect an adjective to the "comparative degree" and the "superlative degree." What are irregular adjectives? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 AsbestosNowadays, the idea of being exposed to asbestos strikes fear in the hearts of most. But just a couple of generations ago, people embraced asbestos-containing materials for their fire-and corrosion-resistant properties. Asbestos—a product obtained from a family of fibrous hydrated silicates—was used in fireproofing, electrical insulation, and various other building materials as well as safety apparel, brake pads, and countless other products. When was it discovered to be a serious health hazard? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 "Red Baron" Shot Down by Allied Fire (1918)Manfred von Richthofen, the "Red Baron," was the World War I German aviator who commanded the flying squadron that became known as Richthofen's Flying Circus. He was the war's most successful flying ace, shooting down 80 aircraft before being killed in action. In April 1918, he was shot in the chest while dogfighting over France. He managed to land his plane but died soon after. The Red Baron has since become a symbol of dexterity, daring, and victory. Who fired the shot that killed him? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Anthony Quinn (1915)Quinn was a Mexican-American artist, writer, and Oscar-winning actor. He boxed in his youth and studied architecture under Frank Lloyd Wright before turning to acting. He achieved international stardom in the 1950s and 60s for his ability to portray ethnically diverse characters, most notably Zorba the Greek. He appeared in over 100 films and won Academy Awards for his supporting roles in two, Viva Zapata! and Lust for Life. His role in the latter film lasted just how many minutes? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 A sharp tongue is the only edge tool that grows keener with constant use.Washington Irving (1783-1859) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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Potemkin village— Something that is made to seem very grand, elaborate, and/or prosperous for the purposes of impressing others, but which in reality has no real worth or substance. Taken from a story about Russian minister Grigory Potemkin (1739–1791) who allegedly erected false, painted façades to mimic a thriving, successful village along the Dnieper River in Crimea to impress the visiting Empress Catherine II. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 San Jacinto Day (2022)Fresh from his victory at the Alamo, General Antonio López de Santa Anna of Mexico proceeded eastward until he encountered the Texan army general, Samuel Houston, at San Jacinto, about 22 miles east of the present-day city of Houston. Houston's 900 soldiers defeated the Mexican force of nearly 1,600, in a battle that lasted only 18 minutes. A legal holiday in Texas, San Jacinto Day is celebrated throughout the state but particularly in San Antonio, where the highpoint of the 10-day San Antonio Fiesta is the huge Battle of Flowers parade winding through the city's downtown streets. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: religionnullifidian - Someone having no faith or religion; a disbeliever. More... apostasy - Abandonment or renunciation of one's religion or morals. More... renegade - First referred to a person who abandons one religion for another. More... secular - Has a root meaning of "temporal"—opposed to the eternity of the church—and means "not connected to a religion." More... | |