Daily Content Archive
(as of Sunday, April 11, 2021)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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subaltern
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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"There" as a Dummy Pronoun"There" is primarily used as a dummy pronoun in circumstances where the sentence is explaining that a person, place, or thing exists. When the word "there" is being used in this manner, it is often referred to as what? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 GymnosophistsThe word "gymnasium" comes from a Greek word meaning "to exercise naked." Its root, gumnos, meaning "naked," is also found in "gymnosophist." The gymnosophists were members of an ancient Hindu ascetic sect devoted to mystical contemplation. They wore little to no clothing, as they regarded it as detrimental to purity of thought. What Greek philosopher known as the founder of pure skepticism came under the influence of the gymnosophists while traveling to India with Alexander the Great? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Brixton Riot (1981)In the early 1980s, south London's Brixton neighborhood was plagued by severe social and economic problems, including high rates of unemployment and crime and poor housing conditions. In 1981, in an effort to reduce street crime, police began stopping and searching anyone they deemed suspicious—a policy that many residents of the predominantly black community found discriminatory and heavy-handed. Eventually, the angry residents rioted. How many people were injured during the clash? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Septimius Severus (145 CE)Severus became emperor of Rome in 193 CE, also known as the "Year of the Five Emperors." In the months before he ascended the throne, two emperors were assassinated and a third—Didius Julianus—earned the position by buying it from the Praetorian Guard. With the empire in disarray, Severus marched on Rome, ousted Julianus, and was proclaimed emperor. He then built himself a strong army that would protect both him and his empire. It is said that he gave what advice to his sons before his death? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 The skeleton of the whale furnishes but little clue to the shape of his fully invested body.Herman Melville (1819-1891) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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in the view of (someone)— In someone's or some group's opinion. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Galveston Island FeatherFest (2024)Begun in 2002, the Galveston Island FeatherFest is intended to celebrate the "birds and natural heritage of the Upper Texas Coastal area." Some 300 species of birds are found on Galveston Island in the springtime as they stop off during their migration north. The FeatherFest allows bird enthusiasts the chance to go on field trips to photograph and watch the birds. Prominent environmental writers, naturalists, and artists are the leaders of these field trips. Seminars, workshops, and lectures on the wildlife in the community are also available, and a FeatherFest Photo Contest is held. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: squeezeanguish, anxious, anxiety - Anguish, anxious, and anxiety come from Latin angere, "to choke, squeeze, strangle." More... kvetch - To complain chronically or habitually, from Yiddish kvetshn, "pinch, squeeze; complain." More... squash - As a verb, it is an alteration of quash, and means, generally, to "crush, squeeze, or suppress." More... tapioca - Comes from Tupi-Guarani tipi, "residue," and ok/og, "squeeze out." More... | |