Daily Content Archive
(as of Thursday, November 22, 2018)| Word of the Day | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
|---|---|
Using Hyphens with Single-Word Compound VerbsWe sometimes use other parts of speech, especially nouns and adjectives, to form verbs that describe a very specific action. When these are combined into a single word, we often use a hyphen to eliminate possible confusion when reading. What is an example? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
|---|---|
 FencesIn the criminal world, a fence is someone who knowingly buys stolen property and later sells it in a legitimate market. Fences often earn large profits because thieves, unwilling to shoulder the risk and time commitment involved in selling stolen goods themselves, are willing to "fence" them for small sums. The use of the word as a verb is first attested to in about 1700 as thieves' slang for selling something under "defense of secrecy." Where do fences often sell their goods today? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
|---|---|
 Juan Carlos I Becomes King of Spain (1975)Juan Carlos was groomed for the role by his predecessor Francisco Franco, the Spanish leader who abolished the republic and declared Spain a representative monarchy. He acceded to the throne two days after Franco's death, becoming the first Spanish king since his grandfather was deposed in 1931. A popular monarch, he presided over Spain's transition to democracy and acted to maintain political stability. He competed in what Olympic event in 1972? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
|---|---|
 Mary of Guise (1515)Mary of Guise was the queen consort of James V of Scotland and the mother of their daughter—the future Mary Queen of Scots. After the outbreak of war between Scotland and England, Mary arranged her daughter's betrothal to the French dauphin. Becoming regent, Mary of Guise made no secret of her desire to bring France and Scotland together. In 1559, the Protestants, led by John Knox and allied with England, rose against her and declared her deposed. What happened in the aftermath of her death? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
|---|---|
 The essence of Government is power; and power, lodged as it must be in human hands, will ever be liable to abuse.James Madison (1751-1836) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
|---|---|
leave home— To cease living with one's parents; to strike out on one's own. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
|---|---|
 Thanksgiving (2018)The first American Thanksgiving was entirely religious, and took place on December 4, 1619, but most Americans think of the first "official" Thanksgiving as the one that took place at Plymouth Colony in October 1621, a year after the Pilgrims first landed on the New England coast. Today, Thanksgiving is a time for family reunions and traditions, most of which center around the preparation of an elaborate meal featuring turkey and a dozen or so accompanying dishes. The widespread sales that begin in stores the next day mark the start of the Christmas shopping season. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
|---|---|
Today's topic: listenear to the ground - It was early Native Americans who taught us to, literally, keep an ear to the ground to listen for horses' hooves as riders approached. More... scout - From the Latin ausculture, "to listen," it became Old French escoute, "a spy." More... hearken - To pay attention or listen; it can also mean "to return to a previous topic." More... listen, hear - To listen is to try to hear; to hear is simply to perceive with the ear. More... | |