Daily Content Archive
(as of Wednesday, August 11, 2021)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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intransigent
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Modal Auxiliary Verbs - MustThe modal verb "must" is most often used to express necessity—i.e., that something has to happen or be the case. When is "must" used in interrogative sentences? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 The Tree That Owns ItselfAt the corner of Finley and Dearing Streets in Athens, Georgia, you will find a tree that, according to most accounts, has legal ownership of itself and all land within 8 ft (2.4 m) of its base. Sometimes called the "Son of the Tree That Owns Itself," the tree currently standing on this spot was grown from an acorn of the original white oak, which fell in 1942. The earliest known record of the tree's tale comes from an 1890 newspaper article. How did it explain a tree having ownership of itself? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 The Watts Riots Begin (1965)As Los Angeles, California, became a hub for the production of munitions and supplies during World War II, thousands of African Americans moved to the city to work. Massive suburban growth in Los Angeles after the war, however, created or exacerbated a variety of urban problems. In 1965, the African-American community of Watts was the site of six days of race rioting that left 34 people dead and caused extensive property damage. What happened on the evening of August 11 to trigger the riots? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Eiji Yoshikawa (1892)Yoshikawa was a popular Japanese historical novelist. Despite the fact that many of his novels are actually revisions of past works, Yoshikawa was awarded the Order of Cultural Merit in 1960. Just before his death from cancer two years later, he received the Mainichi Art Award as well. His success is especially impressive given his lack of formal education—he had not been able to study beyond primary school due to his family's financial troubles. What are some of Yoshikawa's novels? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 Everything looms pleasant through the softening haze of time. Even the sadness that is past seems sweet.Jerome K. Jerome (1859-1927) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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yankee dime— A kiss. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Chad Independence Day (2022)On August 11, 1960, Chad became an independent country after struggling against the French since they first claimed Chad as a French territory in the 1890s. Celebrations of this national holiday—including parades, dancing, and singing—are often moved to January 11 because of the heavy rains in August. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: marriedbenedick, benedict - A long-time bachelor who is newly married is a benedick or benedict. More... quadrigamist - Someone who has married four times. More... connubial - A synonym for "married, wedded." More... matrimony - From Latin matrimonium, "state of being married," from mater, "mother," and monium, "-mony" (state, condition). More... | |