Daily Content Archive
(as of Tuesday, January 10, 2017)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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parhelion
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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SyntaxSyntax refers to the ways in which we order specific words to create logical, meaningful sentences. What two things are required to form a complete and logical statement? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 The Bâton PercéBecause archeologists are unsure of its original function, they now use the descriptive term bâton percé, meaning "pierced rod," to refer to this type of prehistoric artifact. Made from a length of antler with a round hole in one end and often etched with designs, the bâton percé was originally believed to be a symbol of power. Later theories suggest it may have been a fertility symbol, arrow straightener, dress fastener, calendar, or spear thrower. How was the latter theory tested? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Caesar Crosses the Rubicon (49 BCE)When it appeared that the Roman Senate would replace him as governor of the province of Cisalpine Gaul, the increasingly powerful Julius Caesar set out for Rome with an army. By law, he was allowed to command troops only within his own province, so by crossing the Rubicon River into Italy proper, he committed an act of war. The phrase "crossing the Rubicon" has thus come to refer to passing the point of no return. According to legend, what famous remark did Caesar make about his risky decision? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton, 1st Baron Acton (1834)Denied admission to Cambridge University because of his Roman Catholicism, Acton studied instead in Munich. He went on to become a noted historian and member of English Parliament. Outspoken against arbitrary power, he was also an editor of a Catholic monthly but resigned due to papal criticism of his scientific approach to history. He coined the saying "Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely." Another of Acton's sayings is that a strong man with a dagger is followed by whom? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 Pleasures are more beneficial than duties, because, like the quality of mercy, they are not strained, and they are twice blest.Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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jolly (someone) along— To encourage someone (to do something), especially in a positive, cheerful manner. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Benin National Vodoun Day (2021)Vodoun is an ancient, African, pantheistic religion. When it was brought to the Americas by African slaves, it was blended with elements of Christianity into what is known as "Voodoo." The present African country of Benin, situated on the former kingdom of Dahomey, is known as a center of Vodoun culture. The day is celebrated throughout Benin with processions, Vodoun rituals, dances, and even an international film festival. The celebration's central activity, however, is the re-enactment of the journey from the slave auction block in the center of town to the ships in the harbor. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: lessenalleviate - Can mean "diminish the weight of"; to alleviate is not to cure, but rather to lighten, lessen, or relieve to some degree. More... minute, second - Latin minutus, "small," came from minuere, "lessen," and the term pars minuta prima, "first small part," was applied to a 60th of a whole—a minute, originally of a circle and later of an hour; likewise, a second was originally a secunda minuta, a 60th of a 60th. More... mince - Can mean "lessen or diminish (something)" or "minimize." More... bated breath - The expression is based on bate, meaning "to moderate, restrain" or "to lessen, diminish"; though bated was once rather common, it is now rare except in this set expression. More... | |