Daily Content Archive
(as of Wednesday, September 26, 2018)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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half-baked
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Compound AdjectivesA compound adjective (also known as a compound modifier or a phrasal adjective) is created by two or more words that work jointly to modify the same noun. How are they usually joined together? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 Reductio ad HitlerumReductio ad Hitlerum is a type of modern logical fallacy. Derived from the well-known logical argument called reductio ad absurdum, the phrase was coined in 1950 by political philosopher Leo Strauss, who noted the increasing trend of trying to discredit views or practices simply because they are said to have been shared by Hitler. Use of the tactic often derails arguments, since such comparisons distract from the debate. Engaging in this fallacy is sometimes known as playing what? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 MV Joola Disaster in Senegal (2002)Just 11 years ago, a Senegalese ferry capsized off the coast of Gambia, claiming more lives than the notorious Titanic disaster. At least 1,863 people died in the sinking of the MV Joola, making it one of the deadliest civilian maritime disasters in history. A number of factors likely contributed to the tragedy, including bad weather, overloading—the ferry was carrying more than triple the number of passengers it was designed to hold—and a delayed rescue effort. How many survived? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Saint Francis of Assisi (1181)The patron saint of animals, Saint Francis of Assisi was an Italian monk canonized as a saint in 1228. Born into a wealthy family, he was a soldier and prisoner of war before he experienced a conversion in his early 20s. He sold his property, gave the money to the church, and began a life of poverty and devoutness. He soon attracted followers and became the founder of the Franciscan order of friars. Catholics believe that Saint Francis was the first person to exhibit stigmata, which are what? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 Very few reputations are gained by unsullied virtue.Gilbert Chesterton (1874-1936) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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have it large— To engage in or seek out pleasurable, hedonistic activities with great enthusiasm or intensity, especially dancing and drinking alcohol. Primarily heard in UK. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Birthday of Appleseed (2023)John Chapman—better known as Johnny Appleseed for his lifelong dedication to planting apple seedlings all over the American Midwest—was born on this day in 1774. While some frontier settlers thought he was a saint, or at the very least a religious fanatic, with his tin pot hat and coffee-sack tunic, the Native Americans regarded him as a great medicine man since he planted herbs as well as apples. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: silenceobmutescence, obmutescent - Obmutescence is the act of becoming mute or silent—usually a stubborn, willful act; if you are inclined to silence, you are obmutescent. More... oyez - Meaning a call for silence and attention, it descends from Anglo-Norman oyez/oiez, "to hear" or "hear ye." More... silential - Describing something performed in silence. More... omerta - The code of silence in the Mafia, from the Italian word for "humility." More... | |