Daily Content Archive
(as of Wednesday, May 11, 2022)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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tryst
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Periods with AbbreviationsWhile the period is most commonly used to mark the end of a sentence, it is also used to mark abbreviations. In addition to standard abbreviations (words that are shortened by omitting one or more letters), there are also three sub-categories that can use periods. What are they? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 The OrchidThe unusually large orchid family consists of some 450 genera and at least 10,000 species. Orchids grow most abundantly in tropical and subtropical forests and are among the most highly prized ornamental plants. Since being imported from the Bahamas to Britain in the 18th century, these flowers have been cultivated for their commercial value and have been successfully hybridized and variegated. Their name comes from the Greek word orkhis—or "testicle"—after the appearance of what feature? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Bob Marley Succumbs to Cancer at Age 36 (1981)Born in a small Jamaican village and raised in the slums of Kingston's Trench Town, Marley overcame tremendous hardship to become a groundbreaking singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He propelled reggae to worldwide popularity, creating music that reflects his commitment to nonviolence and the Rastafarian religion. In 1975, Marley released "No Woman, No Cry," a song that brought him international fame. Marley was diagnosed with cancer in 1977 but refused the recommended medical treatment. Why? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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.JPG) Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux (1827)Carpeaux was a French sculptor and painter whose works demonstrate his interests in movement and baroque art. Initially a student under Francois Rude, Carpeaux won the Prix de Rome in 1854 and then studied the works of Michelangelo, Donatello, and Verrocchio in Rome. In 1861, he made a bust of Princess Mathilde, which brought him several commissions from Napoleon III, and became a favorite of the court. Why did La Danse, his sculpture on the facade of the Paris Opera, create a scandal? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 It is best to love wisely, no doubt; but to love foolishly is better than not to be able to love at all.William Makepeace Thackeray (1811-1863) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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take a bawling out— To receive a very severe rebuke, chastisement, or scolding (from someone). More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Frost Saints' Days (2022)These three consecutive days in May mark the feasts of St. Mammertus, St. Pancras, and St. Servatus. In the wine-growing districts of France, a severe cold spell occasionally strikes at this time of year, inflicting serious damage on the grapevines; some in rural France have believed that it is the result of their having offended one of the three saints, who for this reason are called the "frost saints." French farmers have been known to show their displeasure over a cold snap at this time of year by flogging the statues and defacing the pictures of Mammertus, Pancras, and Servatus. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: scentbreath - From an Old English word meaning "scent, smell." More... flair - Comes from Latin fragrare, "smell sweet," and was first the ability to detect the "essence" or "scent" of something and know how to act accordingly. More... red herring - Something intended to be misleading or distracting, so named from the practice of using the scent of red herring in training hounds. More... relish - First meant "odor, scent," then "taste, flavor." More... | |