Daily Content Archive
(as of Saturday, September 21, 2019)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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minimalism
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Defining Adverbial PhrasesAn adverbial phrase is a group of words that functions as an adverb in a sentence. That is, it modifies a verb, adjective, adverb, clause, or the sentence as a whole. "Very quickly" is an adverbial phrase. What are some others? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 Wok RacingA wok is a large metal pan with a rounded bottom used in Asian cooking and, in recent years, for racing. Developed by German TV host Stefan Raab as the result of a bet, wok racing involves individuals or teams of four riding woks down an Olympic bobsled track. The first official Wok World Championship was held in 2003 and has continued each year since, drawing celebrities as well as Olympic athletes. What kitchen utensils do racers wear on their feet as protective gear? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit Is Published (1937)The Hobbit is a fantasy novel written by J.R.R. Tolkien, a professor of Anglo-Saxon and of English language and literature at Oxford University. Adapted from stories Tolkien told his kids, The Hobbit is recognized as a classic in children's literature but also attracts adult readers. Its sequel, The Lord of the Rings, is one of the 20th century's most popular and influential works of fantasy literature. What changes did Tolkien make to later editions of The Hobbit? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 H. G. Wells (1866)Wells was an English author whose early books exemplify the political and social beliefs of his time. Full of fantasy and fascinating pseudoscientific speculations, they include The Time Machine, The Invisible Man, and The War of the Worlds. Although he is probably best remembered for his works of science fiction, he was also an imaginative social thinker who worked for many progressive causes. What novels did he write after he abandoned science fiction? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 There are certain narrow, unimaginative, and autocratic old people who seem to call out the most mischievous, and sometimes the worst traits in children.Kate Douglas Wiggin (1856-1923) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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conspicuous consumption— The lavish expenditure of money or acquisition of expensive items as a public display of one's wealth or financial success. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Von Steuben Day (2019)Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben (1730-1794) was an experienced Prussian soldier who came to America in 1777 and helped the American troops bring the Revolutionary War to an end. Today, many states honor him with patriotic exercises on or near the Prussian hero's birthday. At Valley Forge National Historical Park in Pennsylvania, there is a Steuben birthday celebration featuring German music and speeches at the monument to him erected in 1915. There are also Steuben Day parades in New York City, Philadelphia, and Chicago. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: trade nametrade name - A name with the status of a trademark. More... trademark - A name, symbol, or other depiction identifying a product. The first trademarks were stamps and symbols used by ancient cultures to indicate who had made goods; a trade name is the name of the maker, not the product, but has the status of a trademark. More... Ping-Pong - A trade name for table tennis, invented as an echoic term for the sound of the ball. More... Sheetrock, drywall, wall board - Sheetrock is a trade name for drywall or wall board—pre-hardened plaster of Paris (gypsum) sold in large sheets and used as a wall surface in building construction. More... | |