Daily Content Archive
(as of Sunday, October 22, 2017)| Word of the Day | |||
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Using "May" to Express Future WishesThe modal verb "may" is used in more formal language to express a wish or desire that something will be the case in the future. When "may" is used in this way, what happens to the subject in the sentence? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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| This Day in History | |
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.jpg) The Scilly Naval Disaster (1707)Celebrated English Admiral Cloudesley Shovell was returning from an abortive attack on Toulon, France, in 1707 when his ship and several others struck rocks off the Scilly Islands, southwest of England. In one of the greatest maritime disasters in British history, Shovell is believed to have drowned along with as many as 2,000 sailors. According to one of the many legends about the disaster, Shovell reached the shore alive, only to be murdered by a woman who stole what priceless object from him? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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%2c_Sarah-Benhardt.jpg) Sarah Bernhardt (1844)The illegitimate child of a courtesan, Bernhardt was encouraged to pursue a theatrical career by one of her mother's lovers. Her acting teachers did not consider her a particularly promising student, but they turned out to be sorely mistaken; Bernhardt went on to become the premier romantic and tragic actress of her day, touring all over the world during her six-decade career on stage and screen. What morbid possession may have helped "the Divine Sarah" reach her potential as a tragedienne? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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| Idiom of the Day | |
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in bits and pieces— In many small fragments. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Hi Matsuri (2021)On the evening of October 22, people light bonfires along the narrow street leading to the Kuramadera Shrine in Kurama, a village in the mountains north of Kyoto, Japan. Fire is a purifying element according to Shinto teachings, and the village is believed to be protected from accidents on this night. Soon after dusk, torches are lit. Even babies are allowed to carry tiny torches made of twigs, while young men carry torches so large it sometimes takes several men to keep them upright. Everyone chants "Sai-rei! Sai-ryo!" ("Festival, good festival!") as they walk through the streets. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: malesalpha male - A domineering man; the dominant member in a group of males, especially animals. More... kiva - In Native American Pueblo practices, an underground chamber used by the males for religious rites. More... mixed voices - Voices of both males and females united in the same performance. More... | |