Daily Content Archive
(as of Friday, July 19, 2019)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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treacly
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Personal Pronouns - CaseCase is the manner by which a noun is inflected depending on its grammatical function as a subject or object in a sentence. While the English language has largely discarded its case system, personal pronouns are one area in which the case system is still active, being inflected depending on whether they function as what? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 Naming TabooIn China, the naming taboo is a cultural taboo against speaking or writing the given names of exalted persons. In the past, the taboo especially discouraged the use of the emperor's given name and those of his ancestors. For example, during the Qin dynasty, Qin Shi Huang's given name Zheng was avoided, and the first month of the year, "Zheng Yue," was renamed "Duan Yue." In 1777, lexicographer Wang Xihou wrote the full name of the Qianlong emperor in his dictionary. What was his punishment? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Syngman Rhee, First President of South Korea, Dies in Exile (1965)Born in Korea shortly before it was occupied by Japan, Rhee was condemned to life in prison in 1897 for anti-Japanese activity. Amnestied and released in 1904, he went on to become the first Korean to earn a doctorate from a US university. In 1919, he was elected president of a provisional government in exile. Following WWII, he was elected the first president of Korea, with US backing. Ruling as an anti-Communist dictator, Rhee went to war against North Korea in 1950. Why did he resign in 1960? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Rosalyn Yalow (1921)Yalow was a medical physicist who developed the technique of radioimmunoassay (RIA)—a simple way to measure tiny concentrations of substances such as hormones, enzymes, or drugs in blood or other bodily fluids. She originally applied RIA to study blood insulin levels in diabetes mellitus, but the method soon found hundreds of other applications. For these discoveries, she shared the 1977 Nobel Prize in medicine, becoming only the second woman to win the award in this field. Who was the first? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 Love is influenced by no consideration, recognizes no restraints of reason, and is of the same nature as death, that assails alike the lofty palaces of kings and the humble cabins of shepherds; and when it takes entire possession of a heart, the first thing it does is to banish fear and shame from it.Miguel de Cervantes (1547-1616) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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look (at something) through rose-colored glasses— To assume a generally optimistic and cheerful attitude (toward something); to focus on the positive aspects (of something). Primarily heard in US. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Myanmar Martyrs' Day (2021)On July 19, 1947, Aung San and six of his cabinet members, including his older brother, were assassinated during an Executive Council meeting. His political adversary, U Saw, was found guilty of participating in the assassinations and was later executed for his part in the killings. July 19 has been declared Martyr's Day, a national holiday on which the people of Myanmar remember their slain leader Aung San. On this day, the country holds a moment of silence, and a ceremony is held as family members of Aung San and the other assassinated cabinet members lay wreaths on their tombs. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: protectedgeneric word - One referring to a commercial product, formerly a brand name that is no longer protected by trademark. More... patent leather - Got its name from the U.S. Patent Office, as the leather's finish was once protected by patent. More... shelter - May come from Middle English sheltron, a body of troops that protected itself in battle with a covering of joined shields. More... patron - Derives from Latin patronus, which means "protector of clients" or "defender." More... | |