Daily Content Archive
(as of Tuesday, September 29, 2020)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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fisticuffs
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Forming the Third ConditionalThird conditionals are used to establish a hypothetical situation in the past, followed by a hypothetical outcome that did not really happen—typically, the outcome is the opposite of what actually happened. How do we form the third conditional? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 OrcPoet and artist William Blake is known for the complex mythology he created in his Prophetic Books. Among the characters that take shape in these writings is Orc, a positive figure symbolizing rebellion, passion, freedom, and revolution. He stands opposed to Urizen, a figure of order and tradition. Through characters such as these Blake analyzes the American and French revolutions, which took place during his lifetime. Orc's life, which ends in rebirth, bears parallels to what religious figures? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II Is Excommunicated (1227)Prior to being excommunicated the first of several times, Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II had planned to go on a crusade. However, an epidemic waylaid him and a large part of his army, delaying the conquest. As a result, he was excommunicated by Pope Gregory IX. He eventually went on the postponed crusade and became king of Jerusalem. With Italy as the center of his power, Frederick, a religious skeptic, was in frequent conflict with the papacy. Frederick wrote the first book on what subject? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Gene Autry (1907)Probably the most successful "singing cowboy" in American film, Autry began performing on the radio during the 1920s in Oklahoma. He moved to Hollywood in the early 30s and went on to star in nearly 100 films, becoming America's top Western star from 1937 to 1943. He usually played a singing hero astride his famous horse, Champion. He wrote and recorded hundreds of songs, including his signature song, "Back in the Saddle Again." What well-known Christmas song was Autry's biggest hit? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 We drink one another's health and spoil our own.Jerome K. Jerome (1859-1927) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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a spring in (one's) step— A happy, energetic, and excited mood or manner, as indicated by the carefree way one walks. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Las Cantaderas (2025)The Fiesta de Las Cantaderas, held in the town of León, Spain, dates back to a time when parishes were required to contribute young girls as an annual tribute to the Moors. When the king of León finally freed the population of this burden, the girls sang and danced in the streets to celebrate. These days the cantaderas form a parade, starting at the town hall. They dance and sing their way down the street, directed by a woman called the sotadera. The girls bear fruit baskets or other offerings, which they later give to the bishop. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: melancholyelegiac - Can mean "melancholy, mournful." More... brown study - Gloomy meditation or melancholy is known as being in a brown study. More... hypochondria - First referred to the upper abdomen and the organs under the ribs (liver, gall bladder, spleen)—thought to be the source of melancholy. More... | |