Daily Content Archive
(as of Sunday, November 25, 2018)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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intercede
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Negative ImperativesWhen we make an imperative sentence, we use the infinitive form of the verb (without "to"), and we omit the subject of the verb. What can we put before the infinitive verb to make an imperative statement negative? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 Celtic KnotsThe Celtic knot is a design motif involving interwoven lines that loop around one another forming intricate knots. Developed by Celtic tribal artisans by the 7th century CE, Celtic knots decorate a variety of objects and structures but are best known for their use in the ornamentation of Christian monuments and manuscripts like the 8th-century Book of Kells and Lindisfarne Gospels. How many elementary knots are thought to form the basis of nearly all interlaced patterns in Celtic decorative art? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Elias Howe Patents a Precursor to the Zipper (1851)Five years after being granted a patent for the first practical sewing machine, Howe patented his design for a zipper-like garment fastener. However, he never put much effort into marketing this invention, perhaps due to the great success of his sewing machine, and today, credit for the zipper's development is largely given to Whitcomb Judson, who demonstrated his innovative slide-fastener design 42 years later at the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893. How did the zipper get its name? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Carry Nation (1846)Nation was an American temperance advocate with an unorthodox style of destroying saloons with a hatchet while supporters sang hymns. Her passion was likely fueled by her first husband's alcoholism. Though she was successful in focusing public attention on the cause of prohibition, most temperance organizations were hesitant to support her. At 6 feet (1.8 m) tall, Nation was hard to contain and was arrested 30 times before declining health forced her retirement. How did she pay her fines? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 Silence is the virtue of fools.Francis Bacon (1561-1626) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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on in years— Advanced in age; old or becoming old. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Manger Yam (2021)Manger Yam is a harvest celebration of the yam crop observed in Haiti. It is considered taboo to eat any of the new yams before the festival for fear of falling ill or bringing ruin to the yam crop. In Vodoun belief, it is very important for people to maintain relationships with the dead, as well as with each other and the gods, so the deceased are included in the Manger Yam. In the Vodoun service, the priest or priestess leads prayers to the dead and to the gods and offers the first yams to them. After the ceremony, people feast on yam dishes and enjoy music and dancing. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: witchtroll - Originally a witch or sorceress. More... fly-by-night - Said to be an old term of reproach to a woman signifying that she was a witch, and was extended to "anyone who departs hastily from a recent activity," especially while owing money. More... hag - First meant "witch." More... witch - In Old English, it was actually wicca and originally (c. 890) was a man who practiced magic or sorcery, who we now call a wizard; by the year 1000, witch came to be defined as "a female magician or sorceress." More... | |