Daily Content Archive
(as of Tuesday, September 17, 2019)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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PronounsPronouns are words that are used in place of nouns in a sentence. The noun being replaced is known as the antecedent of the pronoun. Pronouns can be the subject of a sentence or clause, the object of a verb, or they can follow linking verbs to rename or re-identify the subject, which is known as what? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 The Last MealThroughout history, prisoners condemned to death have customarily been offered a special "last meal." In premodern Europe, it was a symbolic social act where, by accepting the last meal, the condemned was believed to forgive the executioner, judge, and witnesses. Although alcohol was once used to soothe prisoners and keep them from lashing out during the execution process, alcohol is now generally barred from these meals. What are some of the last meals chosen by notable inmates over the years? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Joshua A. Norton Declares Himself Emperor of the US (1859)Though Norton arrived in San Francisco during the California gold rush, he took up speculating in rice, a valuable commodity at the time, rather than prospecting. Unfortunately, he ended up losing his fortune, after which he vanished for a short time. When he reappeared, he was wearing a costume resembling that of France's Napoleon III and calling himself "Emperor Norton." For the next 13 years, he paraded around the city issuing "proclamations" and even banknotes. How was he treated by police? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Konstantin Eduardovich Tsiolkovsky (1857)Tsiolkovsky was a Russian inventor and rocket expert who was an early investigator of the possibility of rocket flight into outer space. In 1903, he published The Investigation of Outer Space by Means of Reaction Apparatus, which discussed the problems involved in overcoming the earth's gravitational pull and suggested the use of reaction vehicles for interplanetary flight. After losing his hearing as a child, Tsiolkovsky could not attend regular schools. How was he educated? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 That is the natural way of women...to scorn the one that loves them, and love the one that hates them.Miguel de Cervantes (1547-1616) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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have a thing for (someone)— To have a romantic infatuation with someone, especially unbeknownst to that person. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Constitution and Citizenship Day (2023)A number of states and cities hold special exercises on September 17 to focus attention on the rights and obligations of citizenship. Schools make a special effort to acquaint their students with the history and importance of the Constitution. Naturalization ceremonies, re-creations of the signing of the Constitution, and parades are other popular ways of celebrating Constitution and Citizenship Day. Several states observe the entire week in which this day occurs as Constitution Week. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: harmfulcatalytic converter - A device with a catalyst for converting pollutant gases into less harmful ones. More... allergen - Though allergens are not harmful themselves, when they are combined with certain antibodies, a reaction (i.e. the allergy) liberates substances that damage body cells and tissues. More... intrigant - A person who plots something illicit or harmful. More... nocuous - Meaning "harmful, noxious," it is based on Latin nocere, "to hurt." More... | |