Daily Content Archive
(as of Wednesday, June 24, 2020)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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bespoke
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Defining InflectionGrammatical inflection is the way in which a word is changed or altered in form in order to achieve a new, specific meaning. Verbs are the most commonly inflected words, changing form to reflect grammatical tense, as well as mood, voice, aspect, person, and speech. Collectively, this is known as what? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 Tafl GamesTafl games were a family of popular board games that spread with the Vikings throughout northern Europe from about 400 CE and were widely played until the introduction of chess in the 12th century. Played on a checkered board, the games featured two uneven teams of pieces—a larger one that attacked and a smaller one that defended. The rules of these games, though largely lost, have been pieced together using literary sources from various historical periods. What was the objective of these games? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Sally Ride Returns to Earth (1983)Before astronaut Sally Ride became the first American woman to reach outer space, she made a name for herself as a nationally-ranked tennis player. After earning her bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees from Stanford University, she took part in her first space shuttle mission in 1983, serving on board the Challenger. She later served on the panels that investigated the Challenger and Columbia shuttle disasters. What two women preceded Ride in space? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Ambrose Bierce (1842)Author of humorous sketches, horror stories, and tales of the supernatural, Bierce was an American journalist, satirist, and short story writer. Among his best known works are the short story "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" and The Devil's Dictionary, a volume of ironic definitions that showcase his sardonic outlook. In 1913, Bierce traveled to Mexico for a firsthand perspective on its ongoing revolution and disappeared without a trace. What are some theories about how he died? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 The more highly public life is organized the lower does its morality sink.E. M. Forster (1879-1970) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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golden duck— In cricket, a batter's score of zero after being dismissed on the very first ball he or she faces. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Venezuela Battle of Carabobo Day (2023)The Battle of Carabobo was fought in Venezuela on June 24, 1821, between the Spanish and the Venezuelan freedom fighters, led by Simón Bolívar. Their victory led to the independence of Venezuela. At the site of the battle is the Alley of Glory. It leads to the Triumphal Arch, which features two female figures representing peace and victory. The Battle of Carabobo Day is marked by a military parade in Carabobo. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: proportionad valorem - A type of customs duties, from Latin, meaning "in proportion to the value." More... analogy - Comes from Greek analogia, "a proportion," such as 2/10 = 10/X, a way of calculating unknown quantities. More... bonsai - Comes from Japanese words meaning "tray planting" and involves growing and pruning so that all parts of the plant—flowers, leaves, and stems—are in proportion. More... reason - From Latin ratio, "thinking," and associated with the ideas of right order, proportion, or harmony. More... | |