Daily Content Archive
(as of Thursday, June 29, 2017)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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ungainly
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Demonstrative AdjectivesLike all adjectives, demonstrative adjectives modify nouns or pronouns. There are four common demonstrative adjectives in English: "this," "that," "these," and "those." Where do they always appear in a sentence? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 The History of SaffronSpanning cultures, continents, and civilizations, the history of saffron in human cultivation and use reaches back more than 3,000 years. Saffron, a spice derived from the stigmas of saffron crocus plants, has been used as a seasoning, fragrance, dye, and medicine and has remained among the world's costliest substances throughout history. After saffron spread to America in the 18th c, demand grew so much that its price on the Philadelphia commodities exchange matched that of what precious metal? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Sampoong Department Store Collapse (1995)During the construction of what was to be an office building in Seoul, South Korea, owner Lee Joon decided to change course and make it a department store. Contractors who would not comply with his design modifications, which included removing some support columns in favor of escalators, were replaced. By April 1995, cracks were visible in the five-story structure. Two months later, in a span of only 20 seconds, the building collapsed with more than 1,500 people inside. How many of them died? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Ludwig August Theodor Beck (1880)A German general, Beck saw the Nazis' rise to power as "the first ray of hope since 1918." However, he soon feared that Germany was not militarily prepared for an attack on Czechoslovakia. He voiced concern to Adolf Hitler directly, and, in 1938, he resigned in protest against the planned attack but was largely ignored. Beck then became a key member of the conspiracy to overthrow Hitler. What happened to Beck after his plan failed to kill Hitler with a bomb on July 20, 1944? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 I know that everything beautiful attracts love, but I cannot see how, by reason of being loved, that which is loved for its beauty is bound to love that which loves it.Miguel de Cervantes (1547-1616) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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be tied (up) in knots— To be confused, anxious, worried, and/or upset (about something). More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Sts. Peter and Paul Day (2022)It is said that St. Peter and St. Paul were both martyred on June 29, and, for this reason, their names have been linked in various observances around the world. In Peru, the Día de San Pedro y San Pablo is celebrated in fishing villages because St. Peter is the patron saint of fishermen. Processions of decorated boats carrying an image of the saint are common, and sometimes a special floating altar is set up, with decorations made out of shells and seaweed. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: mashbangers and mash - Sausage and mashed potatoes. More... farrago - From Latin, originally "a mash for feeding cattle"; later, figuratively, a medley or hodgepodge. More... mash - Originally malt mixed with hot water, to make wort. More... mush, moosh - Mush and moosh (nouns) are variations on mash. More... | |