Daily Content Archive
(as of Sunday, March 17, 2019)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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frivolity
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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"Short" Adjectives and Degrees of ComparisonFor "short" (one-syllable) adjectives, we generally form the comparative degree by adding the suffix "-er" to the end of the adjective. To form the superlative degree, what suffix do we add to the end of the adjective? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 The UmbrellaIn ancient times, small canopies were used to protect against the sun and denote rank in places like China and Egypt. In ancient Greece and, later, in Rome, the parasol came to be seen as an indispensable part of a fashionable lady's garb. The umbrella all but disappeared in Europe during the Middle Ages and did not reemerge until the late 16th century, when it was introduced as the parapluie—French for "against the rain." Slang terms for umbrella include brolly, gamp, and what else? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Synthesis of Californium Announced (1950)The sixth transuranium element to be synthesized, californium is an artificially produced, radioactive metallic chemical element. A member of the actinide series of elements, it has isotopes with half-lives ranging from about 40 seconds to 900 years. One isotope, californium-252, is used as a neutron source in nuclear reactors. Which four scientists first produced californium in a cyclotron at the University of California at Berkeley? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 John Wayne Gacy (1942)Gacy was an American serial killer who was convicted and later executed for murdering 33 boys and young men between 1972 and 1978. Gacy buried dozens of his victims in a crawl space under the floor of his house and threw several others in a nearby river. Known as the "Killer Clown," he often performed as a clown at local parties and even had drinks at a local bar while in costume on a few occasions. Gacy took up painting while on death row. What motif appeared in many of his art works? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 Even to observe neutrality you must have a strong government.Alexander Hamilton (1755-1804) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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get wise to (someone or something)— To become fully aware or cognizant of someone or something, especially if he, she, or it is suspicious, illegal, or malicious in nature or intention. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Camp Fire Founders' Day (2024)The organization originally known as the Camp Fire Girls was founded on March 17, 1910, around the same time that the Boy Scout movement was getting its start in Great Britain. Now it is coeducational and is known as Camp Fire. The organization stresses self-reliance, and membership is divided into five age levels, from Sparks (pre-school) to Horizon (grades 9-12). Interaction with adults is also emphasized as a way of learning about career choices, hobbies, and other interests. Camp Fire's founding is observed by members as part of Camp Fire Boys and Girls Birthday Week. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: rowwindbreak - A row of trees acting as a fence. More... acrostic - From Greek akron, "end," and stikhos, "row, line of verse." More... queue - Has the forms queued and queuing or queueing; queueing has five vowels in a row. More... row - The verb comes from Germanic ro-, "steer," and row, "orderly line," which is from Germanic raigwa. More... | |