Daily Content Archive
(as of Thursday, October 13, 2016)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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matriarch
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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The Two Reciprocal PronounsThe two reciprocal pronouns in English are "each other" and "one another." In more traditional grammar, "each other" is used to identify only two people who are engaged in the mutual action, while "one another" describes how many people? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 Edgar Allan Poe's "Eureka"Famed poet and writer Edgar Allan Poe considered his 1848 essay "Eureka" to be his career masterpiece. Though described as a "prose poem" by Poe, who wished it to be viewed as art, the work is also a notable scientific and mystical essay unlike any of his other works and includes a cosmological theory that touches on black holes and the big bang theory about 80 years before the 2 subjects gained widespread recognition. Poe claimed "Eureka" was more important than what major scientific discovery? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Cornerstone of the White House Is Laid in Washington, DC (1792)Originally called the "President's Palace," the official residence of the president of the United States was designed by Irish-American architect James Hoban with guidance from President George Washington, whose term ended before he was able to move in. Some slaves took part in the construction, which lasted eight years. Today, the White House is the oldest public building in Washington. Very little of the original structure survived an 1814 fire, set by British troops in retaliation for what? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Mary Henrietta Kingsley (1862)Kingsley was an English explorer and writer who challenged and influenced European ideas about Africa. Following the deaths of her parents, Kingsley travelled to West Africa to complete her father's unfinished book. There, she studied local customs and explored uncharted territory. Returning to her native England, she criticized missionary efforts and defended traditional African culture—including aspects such as polygamy. Another female explorer introduced her to what murderous tribal custom? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 Most of all the other beautiful things in life come by twos and threes, by dozens and hundreds. Plenty of roses, stars, sunsets, rainbows, brothers and sisters, aunts and cousins, but only one mother in the whole world.Kate Wiggin (1856-1923) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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in (one's) heyday— In, at, or during the period of one's greatest success, power, vigor, etc. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Festa da Luz (2020)The two-week Festival of Light held every year in Belém, Pará State, Brazil, honors Our Lady of Nazareth. Her image is carried through the streets to the cathedral on Saturday night in a berlinda or glass enclosure set upon wheels. Behind comes the "Miracle Car"—a heavy platform inscribed with images of the miracles performed by the Virgin—carried on the shoulders of strong men who perform this service as a form of penance. The pilgrimage that accompanies the Festival of Light dates back to the year 1700. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: smilesmilet - A little smile. More... mandarin crease, risorius of Santorini - Below each side of the mouth is the mandarin crease; the muscle that pulls the corners up to smile is the risorius of Santorini. More... miracle - From Latin miraculum, "object of wonder"; its ultimate root meant "to smile upon." More... gelasin - The dimples that appear when you smile are gelasins. More... | |