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Friday, May 5, 2023 | View Archive ?
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Word of the Day

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solemnity

Definition: (noun) A trait of dignified seriousness.
Synonyms:staidness, sedateness
Usage:Do I seem to have lost my solemnity, my gravity, my poise, my dignity? Discuss. Play

Daily Grammar Lesson

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Defining Grammatical Tense

Grammatical tense refers to the conjugation of a verb to reflect its place in time—that is, when the action occurred. Verbs in their basic form inherently describe the present time, and they can be conjugated into a unique form that describes the past. What can we then use to create different aspects of the past and present tenses? More... Discuss

Article of the Day

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How Does Dry Cleaning Work?

Dry cleaning is the process of cleaning fabrics without water. Special solvents and soaps are used so as not to harm fabrics. The practice began in France in the middle of the 19th century, after a dye-works owner noticed that his tablecloth became cleaner after his maid spilled kerosene on it. Early solvents were extremely flammable and led to many fires and explosions. Newer chlorinated hydrocarbon synthetic solvents, such as perchlorethylene, are nonflammable but pose what other dangers? More... Discuss

This Day in History

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Kublai Khan Becomes Ruler of the Mongol Empire (1260)

The grandson of Genghis Khan, Kublai Khan was a Mongol emperor who founded China's Yuan Dynasty and became the first Yuan emperor in 1271. In 1279, he completed his grandfather's conquest of China by overthrowing the Sung dynasty. He promoted economic prosperity by rebuilding the Grand Canal, repairing public granaries, extending highways, and encouraging foreign commerce. His magnificent capital at Cambuluc—now Beijing—was visited by several Europeans, including what notable figure? More... Discuss

Today's Birthday

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Karl Marx (1818)

Though largely ignored during his lifetime, Marx was perhaps one of the most influential figures in history. His ideas, particularly those he expounded in his two most notable works, The Communist Manifesto and Das Kapital, have become the core intellectual tradition for communism and socialism, and many scholars consider him the founder of economic history and sociology. His philosophy significantly influenced communist thinking for the next century. What anarchist was his enemy? More... Discuss

Quotation of the Day

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It was not that she was out of temper, but that the world was not equal to the demands of her fine organism.

George Eliot (1819-1880) Discuss

Mismatch
Select word:
believingly
incredulously
generally
egotistically
immorally
specifically
unselfishly
lawfully
illicitly
virtuously

Match each word in the left column with its antonym (opposite) on the right. When finished, click Answer to see the results. Good luck!

 

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Hangman

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Grammar Quiz

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Which of the following is true of both independent and dependent clauses?

Spelling Bee
Difficulty level:
adj. Retired but retaining an honorary title corresponding to that held immediately before retirement
Spell the word:

Match Up

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Select word:
brigand
bandit
glutton
decrease
go-between
gorger
step-down
mephitis
malodor
mediator

Match each word in the left column with its synonym on the right. When finished, click Answer to see the results. Good luck!

 

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Today's Holiday

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Kodomo-no-Hi

Kodomo-no-Hi is a national holiday in Japan that was known as Boys' Day from the 9th century, but became a day for both boys and girls in 1948. Today, the day is observed largely with family picnics. Households with sons erect tall bamboo poles outside the home and attach streamers in the shape of carp for each son. The carp supposedly represents the strength, courage, and determination shown in its upstream journeys. The festivities are part of Golden Week, which also includes Greenery Day and Japan Constitution Memorial Day. More... Discuss

Horoscope

Idiom of the Day

Freudian slip

— Any inadvertent verbal or written mistake that reveals, or can be construed as revealing, an unconscious or repressed intention, belief, thought, attitude, etc. Named for the Sigmund Freud, considered the founding father of psychoanalysis, whose work largely focused on the unconscious and repressed elements of the human psyche. More... Discuss