Daily Content Archive
(as of Friday, September 14, 2018)| Word of the Day | |||
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Restrictive AppositivesAppositives that are necessary for the sentence's meaning are known as "restrictive appositives." What type of noun often acts as a restrictive appositive? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 Gloomy SundayWritten in 1933 by Hungarian composer Rezso Seress, the song "Gloomy Sunday" has been the subject of several urban legends. Recorded and performed by numerous artists, notably Paul Robeson and Billie Holiday, the song was once called the "Hungarian suicide song" due to claims that it inspired hundreds of suicides in Hungary and in the US. Further legends claimed that performances and radio broadcasts of the song were banned as a result. What fact about Seress likely fueled some of the legends? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Domitian Becomes Emperor of Rome (81 CE)The son of Roman Emperor Vespasian, Domitian was second in line for the throne, yet he was only given positions of nominal importance prior to succeeding his older brother Titus, whom he most likely had killed. Though his laws were severe and increasingly despotic, his administration was ostensibly egalitarian, and he is said to have governed the empire well. Still, defeats in Britain and Germany undermined his leadership. About which of his physical traits was he reportedly extremely sensitive? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Clayton Moore (1914)Moore performed as a stunt man, trapeze artist, and occasional actor in Westerns until he was spotted in a Zorro film by the producer of The Lone Ranger. From 1949 to 1957, he appeared in 169 episodes of The Lone Ranger as the titular masked character, who roams the West fighting injustice with his trusty sidekick, Tonto, and horse, Silver. The Ranger never removed his trademark mask, which Moore continued to wear in public until a 1979 lawsuit forced him to replace it with what? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 It contributes greatly towards a man's moral and intellectual health to be brought into habits of companionship with individuals unlike himself, who care little for his pursuits, and whose sphere and abilities he must go out of himself to appreciate.Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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short on looks— Homely; rather plain or unattractive; not aesthetically pleasing. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Nicaragua Battle of San Jacinto Day (2025)In Nicaragua, September 14 is a national holiday dedicated to the anniversary of the independence of Central America and the battle at San Jacinto. Starting at 7:30 in the morning, the president awards the Presidential Medallion to the best students and teachers from around the country at the Plaza de la Fé Juan Pablo Segundo. Marching bands from 100 schools in the capital and bands from the National Army and the Police participate in a parade that day. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: pursuitdachshund - German for "badger hound," from its original breeding purpose to pursue a badger (etc.) that has taken refuge in a burrow. More... invite - Comes from Latin invitare, from an Indo-European root meaning "to go after something, pursue with vigor, desire." More... logology - The pursuit of word puzzles; also the science of words. More... sue - From Latin sequi, "follow," it first meant "follow, go in pursuit of." More... | |