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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Adverbial PhrasesAn adverbial phrase (also known as an adverb phrase) is group of words that functions as an adverb in a sentence. What is a mitigator? 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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 Algerian Leader Muhammad Boudiaf Assassinated (1992)Boudiaf was an Algerian political leader and a founder of the National Liberation Front, which directed the Algerian War of Independence (1954-1962) against France. Boudiaf was captured in 1956 and imprisoned. He was freed after Algeria gained independence, but his opposition to the new regime led to a 27-year exile. In 1992, he was invited back to head the government and deal with rising religious influence in politics. Months later, he was assassinated by a bodyguard while doing what? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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_-_ritr._A_Ferrazzi%2c_Recanati%2c_casa_Leopardi.jpg) Giacomo Leopardi (1798)Leopardi was an Italian poet and scholar who suffered throughout his life from chronic physical ailments and dashed hopes. Despite these challenges, he was devoted to philosophy and the classics from early childhood and became one of the most formidable linguists and writers of his time. His pessimistic poetry is admired for its brilliance, intensity, and musicality. He is considered among the great Italian poets of the 19th century. What are some of his most famous works? 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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hobby-horse— A subject, topic, or issue about which one frequently or incessantly talks, expounds, or complains. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Sts. Peter and Paul Day (2020)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: trickssnow park - An area of a piste, or ski trail, created for snowboarders and skiers to do tricks. More... intricate - From Latin in-, "into," and tricae, "tricks, perplexities." More... monkeyshines - A combination of monkey and shines, "capers, tricks." More... whist - The game was originally called whisk, from "whisking away" the cards after the tricks had been taken. More... | |