Daily Content Archive
(as of Tuesday, July 16, 2019)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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colewort
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Declarative SentencesA declarative sentence makes a statement or argument about what is, was, or will be the case. What are some variations of declarative sentences? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 Sumptuary LawsSumptuary laws are laws directed against overindulgence or extravagance in diet, drink, and dress based on social, religious, or moral grounds. Historically, these statutes often varied according to rank and were mainly used to mark class distinctions and prevent people from assuming the appearance of a superior class. They were also used to stigmatize disfavored groups, who could be required to wear identifying apparel. How rich did one need to be to wear a belt in the Massachusetts Bay Colony? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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.jpg) Saddam Hussein Becomes President of Iraq (1979)Hussein was president of Iraq from 1979 to 2003. He joined Iraq's Ba'th Party in 1957 and fled to Egypt after participating in a failed attempt to assassinate the Iraqi prime minister in 1959. He returned to Iraq when the Ba'thists gained power in 1963 but was jailed when they were overthrown. He escaped and helped reinstall the party in 1968. A decade later, he took over the presidency with the aim of replacing Egypt as leader of the Arab world. How many wars did Iraq fight during his tenure? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Saint Clare of Assisi (1194)Born to a noble family, Chiara Offreduccio, now St. Clare of Assisi, was deeply influenced by fellow Assisian St. Francis. Refusing to marry, she instead fled to a chapel where he received her vows. She later became abbess of a female religious community that included her sister and mother. The Second Order of St. Francis, or Poor Clares, adopted the absolute poverty of St. Francis but was strictly cloistered, unlike its counterpart, the Franciscans. Why is Clare the patron saint of television? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 Falsehood is so easy, truth so difficult.George Eliot (1819-1880) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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Captain Obvious— A person who makes a statement or statements of such obvious meaning or implication as to be entirely redundant, superfluous, or unnecessary. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Asanha Bucha Day (2019)Celebrated in Thailand on the first full moon of the eighth lunar month, Asanha Bucha Day marks the first public sermon given by Buddha, which took place at Deer Park in Benares, India. The day also marks the beginning of Vassa, the Buddhist lent period also known as the Rains Retreat. Ceremonies are held in Buddhist temples throughout the country, and elaborate wax candles are lit and kept burning throughout lent. On this day, townspeople will put flowers into their bowls instead of food, and the monks offer these flowers at the temple in honor of the Buddha. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: instructioncatechism, catechumen - Catechism comes from Latin catechismus, "instruction by word of mouth," and is literally a series of questions and answers; a catechumen is a young Christian preparing for confirmation. More... disciple, discipline - Disciple comes from a Latin word meaning "learner" and discipline comes from one meaning "instruction, knowledge." More... document - First meant "instruction" or "evidence," whether written or not. More... lore - Originally meant "the act of teaching" or a "piece of instruction, lesson." More... | |