Daily Content Archive
(as of Tuesday, April 16, 2019)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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lampblack
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Using the Subjunctive MoodWhen we use the subjunctive mood to express actions that we demand, suggest, or request that someone else take, or describe something that must be the case, we use the base form of the verb. What does that mean? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 GentlemanIn English law, a gentleman was one who bore a coat of armor, was entitled to bear arms, and ranked above yeomen. However, by the 19th century, the word’s association with social rank had diminished, and rather than signify a distinction of blood, the term came to describe a man who is cultured, courteous, and well-educated. Today, it is often used, alongside "lady," to emphasize norms expected in polite society. What qualities are associated with the Confucian "gentleman," the junzi? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Chinese Submarine Suffers Mysterious Accident that Kills 70 (2003)A week and a half after a mysterious event left the entire 70-man crew of the Chinese, Ming-class submarine No. 361 dead at their posts, the stricken vessel was discovered and towed to shore. The official explanation for the disaster, that the crew suffocated when diesel engines failed to shut down while the vessel was submerged, leaves many questions unanswered. For example, if the vessel was submerged, how was it recovered? What else is strange about the circumstances surrounding the tragedy? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Mercier "Merce" Philip Cunningham (1919)Cunningham was an American modern dancer and choreographer. He studied with Martha Graham, presented his first work in 1942, and formed his own company in 1953. His innovative dances were set to the music of avant-garde composers, including his longtime partner, John Cage. He was known for collaborating with contemporary artists, including Andy Warhol and Jasper Johns, who created sets and costumes for him. In 2003, his Split Sides featured music by what two experimental rock bands? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 It is not from nature, but from education and habits, that our wants are chiefly derived.Henry Fielding (1707-1754) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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never a rose without a/the prick— There is rarely a good or positive thing, event, or circumstance that is not accompanied by something negative or unpleasant (i.e., just as a rose has thorns). More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Margrethe's Birthday (2025)The birthday of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark (b. 1940) is observed in the capital city of Copenhagen, where people congregate in the courtyard of Amalienborg, the royal palace. Carrying small Danish flags, children cheer and sing for the Queen, refusing to go home until she comes out to greet them. She often appears on the balcony at lunchtime and makes a speech, which is followed by a changing of the Royal Guard in its scarlet dress uniforms. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: knightesquire - At its root, it means "shield bearer (in service to a knight)," from Latin scutarius. More... forget-me-nots - May have gotten their name from the last words of a knight who drowned while trying to pick these flowers by a riverside. More... heart on one's sleeve - Comes from chivalry, when a knight wore a scarf or other item from his lady tied to his sleeve. More... | |