Daily Content Archive
(as of Sunday, September 1, 2019)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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embroil
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Defining Regular and Irregular InflectionInflection, the way we change a word's form to reflect things like tense, plurality, gender, etc., is usually governed by consistent, predictable rules. This is known as "regular inflection." However, there are many instances in which the way a word is inflected doesn't seem to follow any rules or conventions at all—this is known as "irregular inflection." What part of speech is most commonly affected by irregular inflection? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 The Belle ÉpoqueFrench for "beautiful era," the belle époque was a period of relative political stability and artistic and cultural refinement between the late 19th century and the start of WWI, especially in France. The era was viewed as a golden age among European powers, a period characterized by new technologies and luxuries, including changes in transportation, fashion, and the arts. Champagne was perfected during this period, and haute couture was invented. What modernist authors emerged during this era? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Germany Invades Poland (1939)After staging Polish attacks on German forces to create the appearance of Polish aggression, Germany invaded Poland, beginning WWII. Britain and France declared war on Germany two days later, and all the members of the Commonwealth of Nations, with the exception of Ireland, rapidly followed suit. The German blitzkrieg crushed the Polish defenses. Within a month all of Poland was occupied by German forces as well as the forces of what state with whom Germany had just signed a non-aggression pact? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Rocky Marciano (1923)Marciano turned to professional boxing in 1947, after failing to become a professional baseball player. On his climb to the heavyweight title, he became the second boxer ever to knock out Joe Louis. He won the title in 1952 and defended it 6 times before retiring. The only heavyweight champion with a perfect professional record, he was undefeated in 49 fights—43 won by knockout. A test of the force of his punch found that it carried enough energy to lift how much weight one foot off the ground? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 There must be a limit to the mistakes one person can make, and when I get to the end of them, then I'll be through with them. That's a very comforting thought.Lucy Maud Montgomery (1874-1942) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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a legend in (one's) own lifetime— A person who has an extraordinary level of fame or reputation while he or she is still alive. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Uzbekistan Independence Day (2024)The Republic of Uzbekistan was one of the central Asian republics of the former Soviet Union until 1991, when it and other republics declared their independence from the U.S.S.R. Independence Day, September 1, is celebrated throughout the country with parties, music, and exhibits. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: threatboast - First meant "threaten" or "threat." More... gunboat diplomacy - Foreign policy carried out with the backing of the threat or use of military force. More... ostrichism - Self-delusion, a refusal to cope with something, such as a threat—figuratively hiding one's head in the sand, as the animal is mistakenly thought to do. More... | |