Daily Content Archive
(as of Saturday, July 1, 2017)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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acquiescent
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Regular and Irregular VerbsRegular verbs form the past simple tense and past participle the same way (-d or -ed), while irregular verbs do not adhere to a distinct or predictable pattern. What common verb is known as a "highly irregular" verb? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 The Doctrine of SignaturesReferenced in mainstream medical texts until the late 19th century and currently employed in homeopathic remedies, the Doctrine of Signatures is an ancient European philosophy that assigns healing properties to plants based on the association between their physical characteristics and those of the disease or affected body part. The red sap of the bloodroot, for instance, is said to cure diseases of the blood. According to this philosophy, what ailments are walnuts particularly suited for curing? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 International Geophysical Year Begins (1957)Undertaken during a period of maximum sunspot activity, the International Geophysical Year (IGY) was an 18-month period of cooperation among the scientists of 67 nations for concentrated and coordinated geophysical study, primarily of the solar and terrestrial atmospheres. It produced scientific cooperation unimpeded by the Cold War and was the largest and most important international scientific effort to that date. What are some of the dozens of advances and discoveries achieved during the IGY? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 George Sand (1804)Born Amandine Dupin, Sand was raised in a strict household but began to rebel after spending time in a convent. She wore men's clothes and urged women to live as men did. In 1836, she divorced her aristocratic husband and moved to Paris with their two children, supporting them by writing some 80 novels. Under her pseudonym, she became a star of the French literary scene, drawing admiration from Gustave Flaubert and vitriol from Charles Baudelaire. What famous composer was Sand's longtime lover? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 Exuberance is better than taste.Gustave Flaubert (1821-1880) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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lone it— To go somewhere or do something alone; to be by oneself. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Bascarsija Nights (2021)One of Bosnia and Herzegovina's biggest events, Bascarsija Nights is a month-long celebration of culture. Artistic expressions ranging from street theatre to classical symphony make up this festival held in the country's capital, Sarajevo; one well-established tradition is the opening night performance by the Sarajevo Philharmonic Orchestra. The remaining days are marked by events offering sophisticated entertainment—theatre, book readings, ballet, art exhibits—as well as popular fare like rock concerts, movie screenings, and folklore presentations. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: tailscomet - Has a tail, and gets its name from Greek kometes, "long-haired star." More... bangs - The practice of cutting horses' tails the same length was called "banging off," which led to this term for a woman's hairstyle. More... soup-and-fish - Refers to the attire of white tie and tails. More... tailgate - Originally a gate that dropped down at the tail of a wagon. More... | |