Daily Content Archive
(as of Saturday, November 3, 2018)| Word of the Day | |||
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Focusing Adverbs that Limit informationFocusing adverbs are used to draw attention to a particular part of a clause. When we want to emphasize information that presents limits, we use focusing adverbs like "alone" and "only." What are other focusing adverbs that emphasize limits? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 The Vanishing HitchhikerTold across the world in many variations, the vanishing hitchhiker story is a popular urban legend whose most common version involves a lone motorist who picks up a hitchhiker. This hitchhiker later vanishes without explanation, often from a moving vehicle. The driver eventually tracks down the hitchhiker's relatives only to learn that the person in question died long ago. In other versions of the legend, the hitchhiker predicts a future disaster. What are some early examples of the tale? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Laika the Dog Launched into Outer Space (1957)Soviet scientists found her wandering the streets of Moscow. Nicknamed Laika, or "Barker," the little stray dog was recruited because she had already learned to withstand hunger and cold—two things she might experience in space. After intensive training, Laika became the first animal to be launched into orbit. Though she survived the launch—and even ate some food while in orbit—her capsule was not designed for a return trip. Within hours, she overheated and died. How long did the capsule orbit? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Stephen Fuller Austin (1793)Austin was the founder of the first legal colony of English-speaking people in Mexican Texas. Following the death of his father, who had conceived the plan, Austin led 300 families to settle on the Brazos River in 1822. As his colony prospered, US immigrants poured into Mexico. Initially opposed to Texan independence, Austin tried to organize Texas as a Mexican state. He was instead imprisoned by the government for treason, after which he supported the Texas Revolution. What were his last words? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 Nothing ever comes to me, that is worth having, except as the result of hard work.Booker T. Washington (1856-1915) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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take a seat— To be seated; to select a place to sit. (Often an invitation or request.) More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Meiji Setsu (2025)This day was formerly observed as the birthday of the Emperor Meiji (1852-1912), who ruled Japan from 1868 until his death. Meiji Tenno abolished feudalism, raised the people's standard of living, and secured Japan's reputation as a great world power. It was during his reign that a constitution was adopted, a parliament was convened, civil and criminal laws were codified, and an educational system was established. Railways were built, and electric lights and telephones were put into use. Today, November 3 is still a national holiday, but it is known as Bunka-no-Hi, or Culture Day. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: utterarrant - Means "complete, utter," as in arrant knave, "an extremely untrustworthy individual." More... explore - Comes from Latin, meaning "search out," from ex-, "out," and plorare, "utter a cry." More... whicker - To utter a half-suppressed laugh. More... yodel - From Bavarian jodln, "to utter the syllable jo (yo)." More... | |