Daily Content Archive
(as of Tuesday, January 2, 2024)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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PhrasesGrammatical phrases are groups of two or more words that work together to perform a single grammatical function in a sentence. What is an appositive phrase? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 Water WitchingDowsing, also known as divining or water witching, is the practice of ascertaining the presence of underground water or minerals using a forked twig or a pendulum. Dowsing has existed in various forms for thousands of years, and while it may have originally been rooted in divination of the will of the gods, the practice was later associated with Satan. Many skeptics believe that dowsing successes result mostly from chance. What did the 1987 Munich study of more than 500 dowsers conclude? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Discovery of the Planet Vulcan Is Announced (1860)To account for inconsistencies between Mercury's predicted and observed orbital path, French astronomer Urbain Jean Joseph Leverrier postulated that a tiny, hypothetical planet, which he named Vulcan, was present within Mercury's orbit. Sightings of Vulcan were reported until 1878, and Leverrier died believing he had discovered another planet. Eventually, however, the orbital anomalies were explained by Einstein's general theory of relativity. After what was the hypothetical planet named? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Mehmed IV (1642)After the deposition and murder of his father, Sultan Ibrahim, 7-year-old Mehmed IV ascended the throne of the Ottoman Empire. Chaos and corruption followed, and though grand vizier Mehmed Köprülü managed to restore order, the empire suffered severe setbacks. In 1683, the Turks besieged Vienna but were repulsed by King John III of Poland, and a Holy League was formed to carry the war into Ottoman territory. Mehmed was deposed after a Turkish defeat by Charles V of Lorraine. Who succeeded him? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 I am sure that if the mothers of various nations could meet, there would be no more wars.E. M. Forster (1879-1970) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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honey-mouthed— Smooth, soothing, and sweet in voice, especially in a persuasive or seductive manner or intent. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Haiti Ancestors' Day (2024)In Haiti, the Independence Day festivities that occur on the first day of the year continue into the second with Jour des Aieux (Ancestors' Day), an occasion for remembering the founders of Haiti and those who sacrificed their lives during the revolution of the early 19th century. A large meal often accompanies the day's festivities, and military processions may also take place on Ancestors' Day. In years past, particularly during the reign of President François Duvalier (1971–1986), the executive leader used this day to broadcast speeches to the nation. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: pie | |