Daily Content Archive
(as of Wednesday, August 2, 2017)| Word of the Day | |||
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Creating Adverbs of MannerAdverbs of manner are used to tell us how something happens or is done. They are very often formed from adjectives by simply adding "-ly," but sometimes, the spelling of a word will have to change slightly so as to better accommodate the extra "-ly." If the adjective ends in "-ic," for instance, what does the ending become? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 The Stoning of the DevilThe Stoning of the Devil, or Stoning of the Jamarat, is one of the rituals performed by millions of Muslims during the hajj, or annual pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. To represent the casting aside of their low desires, pilgrims fling pebbles at three walls, called jamarat, in the city of Mina. Although the jamarat used to be tall pillars, Saudi authorities replaced them with walls in 2004 to make the practice safer. What dangers do pilgrims face during the ritual? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 The Gulf of Tonkin Incident (1964)While on patrol in the Gulf of Tonkin, the USS Maddox was attacked by North Vietnamese torpedo boats. Two days later, US boats were supposedly attacked again without provocation. These events—known collectively as the Gulf of Tonkin Incident—prompted US Congress to pass a resolution allowing President Lyndon B. Johnson to use military force in Southeast Asia without a formal declaration of war, leading to increased US involvement in the Vietnam War. Had there in fact been a second attack? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Peter O'Toole (1932)O'Toole, a classical stage actor, debuted in London in 1956 and played a variety of Shakespearean roles. Tall and handsome, he catapulted to stardom in 1962 with his portrayal of British Army officer T. E. Lawrence in the desert epic Lawrence of Arabia. He went on to win praise for performances in films ranging from historical dramas to high comedies and, though he never won, was nominated for an Academy Award eight times. Despite this record, he received what award in 2003? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 Rivalry adds so much to the charms of one's conquests.Louisa May Alcott (1832-1888) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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grind (someone's) gears— To greatly or specifically irritate or annoy someone. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Ilinden (Macedonia Republic Day) (2023)August 2 is an official holiday in Macedonia commemorating the nation's first modern statehood. In 1903, Macedonian Christian nationalists led a rebellion against the Turkish Ottoman Empire. The rebels staged an uprising on August 2 of that year, a date that also marked the Christian feast day of Ilinden, or the prophet Elijah's ascension into heaven. The Ilinden uprising has become a cultural cornerstone in the mythology of modern Macedonia and is acknowledged as an important precursor to the establishment of the present-day Republic of Macedonia. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: nourishalimony - From Latin alimonia, "nourishment" or "eating money," from alere, "to nourish," and mony, "result, resulting condition," it first meant "nourishment, support." More... alumnus, alumna, alumni - Alumnus and alumna stem from Latin alere, "to nourish or be nourished," now by a university; originally alumnus was a pupil and now it is a male graduate. Alumni refers to either sex. More... coalesce - Meaning "cause to grow together," it is from Latin co- and alere, "nourish." More... nurture - The verb was formed after the noun, which first referred (c. 1330) to a person's training or breeding. The word can be traced back to Latin nutritus, meaning "to nourish." More... | |