Daily Content Archive
(as of Friday, September 27, 2019)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Compound-Complex SentencesCompound-complex sentences are made up of two independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses. In a compound-complex sentence, how is the complex independent clause joined to the other independent clause? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 The Mayerling IncidentThe Mayerling Incident was the apparent murder-suicide of 30-year-old Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria and his lover, 17-year-old Baroness Maria Vetsera, in 1889. His father, the emperor, had objected to the affair and reportedly ordered them to end the relationship. Rudolf became despondent and allegedly formed a suicide pact with his mistress. Although their deaths were officially declared a double suicide, efforts to disguise the facts provoked many rumors, including what conspiracy theories? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Wreck of the "Old 97" (1903)The Fast Mail, a Southern Railway mail train nicknamed "Old 97," crashed near Danville, Virginia, in 1903. The derailment occurred when the train, which was being operated at a high speed in order to stay on schedule, approached a curve too quickly. It fell from the trestle to the ravine below, killing several people. The accident inspired a famous ballad that has since been recorded by Johnny Cash and Woody Guthrie among others. Why did the song become the subject of a copyright dispute? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Sophia Alekseyevna (1657)Sophia Alekseyevna seized power in Russia after the death of her father, Czar Feodor III, and became regent during the minority of her disabled brother, Ivan V, and her half-brother, Peter I. She brutally eliminated her opponents and ruled dictatorially with her lover, Vasily V. Gallitzin. She aspired to be crowned czarina, but lacked support from the nobility and clergy. When it was rumored that she intended to kill Peter to become sole ruler, he overthrew the regency and confined her where? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 A steady hand in governing of military affairs is more requisite than in times of peace, because an error committed in war may, perhaps, prove irremediable.Francis Bacon (1561-1626) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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have it out (with someone)— To have an argument, verbal fight, or frank discussion (with someone), especially to settle something that has caused anger, frustration, or annoyance. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Sts. Cosmas and Damian Day (Brazil) (2023)Legend has Cosmas and Damian as twin brothers from Syria who were brought up in the Christian faith and who devoted their lives to medicine. As doctors they refused payment for their services, instead asking those who benefited from their healing to believe in Christ. In Brazil, the feast of Cosmas and Damian is celebrated on September 27 and it is traditional to give candy to children, since the saints are patrons of children. Yoruban mythology, which lives on through African Brazilians, tells of another set of holy twins, who are often associated with Cosmas and Damian. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: healingbalsam - First referred to an aromatic resinous substance with healing or soothing properties. More... healing, curing - Healing is a process in which an organism's health is restored; curing is a method that promotes healing. More... psychiatry - From Greek psykhe, "mind," and iatreia, "healing." More... salve - The main semantic element is "healing," but the etymological meaning is "oily substance." More... | |