Daily Content Archive
(as of Sunday, January 3, 2021)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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interpolate
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Interrogative AdjectivesEnglish has three interrogative adjectives: "what," "which," and "whose." They are called "interrogative" because they are usually used to ask questions. How can they be differentiated from interrogative pronouns? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 A Sandwich for SandwichIt has been said of John Montagu, 4th earl of Sandwich, that "seldom has any man held so many offices and accomplished so little." An unpopular, corrupt politician, he was criticized for prosecuting a friend for obscenity, despite being notoriously dissolute himself. Today, he is known for a 1762 incident in which he asked to be served meat stuck between slices of bread so that he would not have to interrupt his gambling to eat. What alternate tale explains Sandwich's connection to the sandwich? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Former Panamanian Dictator Manuel Noriega Surrenders to US (1990)The reign of Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega had been rife with turmoil, corruption, and diplomatic tension with the US, and his decision to void the results of the 1989 Panamanian presidential election, which had been won by a US-backed candidate, brought matters to a head. That December, US President George H.W. Bush sent troops to depose him. Noriega initially went into hiding, but he surrendered days later and was taken to Miami to face drug trafficking charges. Where had he been hiding? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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.jpg) Anna May Wong (1905)One of the first Chinese-American movie stars, Wong played her first leading role, at age 17, in The Toll of the Sea. At that time, most Asian character roles were played by white actors in "yellowface." As a result, Wong was frequently passed over for leading roles due to the anti-miscegenation laws that prevented her from sharing an on-screen kiss with a white actor. Nevertheless, her acting skills and impeccable fashion sense made her a star. How was she received in China? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 Dress is at all times a frivolous distinction, and excessive solicitude about it often destroys its own aim.Jane Austen (1775-1817) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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vertically challenged— Short; not tall in stature. (Pseudo-politically correct slang used for humorous effect.) More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Ball-Catching Festival (2025)This 500-year-old tradition, said to have its roots in the legend of a dragon god (Ryujin) offering two balls to the Empress Jingu (170–269), takes place each year in Higashi-Ku, Fukuoka City, Japan. Two teams of Japanese men, wearing only loincloths (fundoshi), compete for a ball that weighs about 18 pounds; these teams consist of the Land Team, made up of farmers who work the fields, and the Sea team, composed of fishermen. A Shinto priest awaits the winner to hand him the ball—the size of the harvest or of the catch during the new year is determined by which team wins. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: pleaseamuse-bouche, amuse-guele - Amuse-bouche and amuse-guele both mean literally "something to please the mouth," and both refer to an appetizer or pre-meal tidbit. More... like - Comes from Germanic likam, "appearance, body, form"; the verb came from likojam, which, as like, originally meant "please." More... love - From Old English lufu, connected with Sanskrit lubh, "to desire," and Latin lubere, "to please." More... | |