Daily Content Archive
(as of Saturday, January 11, 2020)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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opulence
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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How to Conjugate "Be"The verb "be" is unique among verbs for having a huge variety of conjugations. Not only does it have irregular inflections for the past simple tense and past participle, but it also has specific forms depending on what two things? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 ScotomataA scotoma is a blind spot or area of depressed vision in the visual field, surrounded by an area of relatively normal vision. There are many types of scotomata, including central scotoma, an area of depressed vision involving the point of fixation and interfering with central vision; peripheral scotoma, an area of depressed vision toward the periphery of the visual field; and scintillating scotoma, an area of diminished vision edged by colored lights. Scintillating scotomata often precede what? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Grand Canyon Designated a National Monument (1908)Arizona's Grand Canyon, the great gorge of the Colorado River, is one of the natural wonders of the world. The canyon reaches depths greater than 1 mile (1.6 km), and its multicolored rock layers and steep rims are renowned for their beauty. After visiting the Grand Canyon in 1903, US President Theodore Roosevelt—an avid conservationist—became a major proponent of its preservation and designated it a US National Monument on January 11, 1908. Who fought against his efforts? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 George Joseph Smith (1872)Smith was the English serial killer and bigamist behind the "Brides in the Bath" murders, a case that was a breakthrough in forensic investigation. Suspicions arose when three women were found dead in their bathtubs within three years—and each one had left money to her husband. However, none of the victims showed signs of violence. Smith's perfect crime unraveled when the Detective Inspector was able to link him to each woman, and the pathologist determined that Smith had done what to them? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 Pain like mine demands new modes of song.Miguel de Cervantes (1547-1616) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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on Carey Street— euphemism Bankrupt; in severe or crippling debt. Named for the street in London where the bankruptcy court for the United Kingdom was at one time located. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Juturnalia (2022)According to Virgil, Juturna is the sister of Turnus, king of the Rutuli. In return for her virginity, Jupiter gave her immortality. Afterward, she was turned into a fountain of the same name near the Numicus, the river where Aeneas' dead body was found. The waters from this fountain were used in sacrifices, particularly those in honor of the Roman goddess Vesta, and were believed to have curative powers. On January 11, a festival in honor of Juturna was observed by men working on aqueducts and wells. She was also celebrated at the Vulcanalia on August 23 as a protectress against fire. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: knightesquire - At its root, it means "shield bearer (in service to a knight)," from Latin scutarius. More... forget-me-nots - May have gotten their name from the last words of a knight who drowned while trying to pick these flowers by a riverside. More... heart on one's sleeve - Comes from chivalry, when a knight wore a scarf or other item from his lady tied to his sleeve. More... | |