Daily Content Archive
(as of Thursday, January 17, 2019)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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has-been
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Modal Verbs that Indicate an ObligationBecause modal auxiliary verbs can be quite similar in how they are used, it is sometimes unclear when it's more appropriate to use one instead of another. For instance, "must," "shall," "should," and "will" can all be used to indicate an obligation to do something. Which one is particularly direct and forceful? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 Border ReiversDuring the Middle Ages, England and Scotland were almost constantly at war. Born out of these conflicts were the border reivers, English and Scottish raiders loyal only to their families or clans. They raided both sides of the Anglo-Scottish border impartially, rustling cattle, stealing household goods, and taking prisoners for ransom. Considered the finest light cavalry in Europe, reivers sometimes hired themselves out as mercenaries or were forced into army service. What was a "Hot Trod"? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Popeye Makes His Debut in the Thimble Theater Comic Strip (1929)Popeye, the popular cartoon character who turns from sailor to strongman with a few swallows of spinach, started out as a minor character in the Thimble Theater comic strip. In its early days, the strip starred Olive Oyl and her boyfriend, Ham Gravy. However, after cartoonist E.C. Segar introduced Popeye, he became so popular that his role was expanded, and he soon replaced Ham as Olive's love interest, going on adventures with her brother, Castor Oyl, and facing what nemesis? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Benjamin Franklin (1706)Regarded as one of the most extraordinary public servants in American history, Franklin was also a printer, publisher, author, scientist, and inventor. After gaining popularity as the publisher of Poor Richard's Almanack, he promoted public services in Philadelphia, including a library and a fire department. In 1776, he went to France to seek aid for the American Revolution, and in 1787 he was instrumental in the adoption of the US Constitution. What musical instrument did he invent? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 Opportunities flit by while we sit regretting the chances we have lost, and the happiness that comes to us we heed not, because of the happiness that is gone.Jerome K. Jerome (1859-1927) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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lose (one's) buttons— To be or become mentally deficient, incompetent, or deranged; to become of unsound mind. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Benjamin Franklin's Birthday (2025)Born in Boston on this day in 1706, Benjamin Franklin helped edit, and was a signer of, the Declaration of Independence. He also helped to frame the Constitution. When he died in 1790 in Philadelphia, he was given the most impressive funeral that city had ever seen: 20,000 people attended. In Philadelphia, the Franklin Institute Science Museum holds a two-day "birthday bash" that often involves people dressing as Franklin. The celebration takes place on the weekend preceding Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, which is the Monday after January 15. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: interpretationeisegesis - The interpretation of a word or passage by reading into it one's own ideas. More... hermeneutic - An adjective meaning "concerned with interpretation," especially of scripture. More... case-sensitive - If something is case-sensitive, there is a different meaning or interpretation based on upper- and lower-cased letters. More... semiotics - The study of signs and symbols and their use or interpretation. More... | |