Daily Content Archive
(as of Saturday, April 28, 2018)| Word of the Day | |||
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Grading and Non-Grading AdverbsAdverbs of degree can be mild, medium, strong, or absolute in how they describe the intensity, degree, or extent of the word they modify. Adverbs that are mild, medium, or strong are known as "grading adverbs." What are "non-grading adverbs"? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 The Four Stages of CrueltyThe Four Stages of Cruelty is a series of four engravings published in 1751 by William Hogarth, an English artist credited with pioneering Western sequential art. Each print depicts a stage in the life of the fictional Tom Nero. Beginning with the torture of a dog as a child, Nero progresses to beating his horse, and then to robbery and murder. In the final scene, which is grisly even by modern standards, Nero's body is dissected after his execution. Why did Hogarth create the series? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Charles de Gaulle Resigns as President of France (1969)A celebrated general and statesman, de Gaulle was elected first president of France's Fifth Republic—a system of government with broad executive powers—in 1959. He helped write the constitution and pushed for direct popular election of the president. The mass civil unrest of May 1968 by students and workers almost toppled his government, and in 1969 de Gaulle was defeated in a referendum on constitutional amendments and resigned. He died just a year later. Whom did he bar from his funeral? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Yi Sun-Sin (1545)Considered a Korean national hero, Yi was a naval commander who repelled the Japanese invasion of Korea in the late 16th century. He is said to have been undefeated in any naval battle in which he was a commander. Part of his success in combat was due to his innovative "turtle ship," which was covered with iron spikes and plates to prevent enemies from boarding. The ship's bow featured a dragon head, through which a cannon could be fired. Why was Yi relieved of command in 1597? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 By the power of filial reverence and parental affection, individual existence is extended beyond the limits of individual life, and the happiness of every age is chained in mutual dependence upon that of every other.John Quincy Adams (1767-1848) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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not any hard feelings— No ill will; no resentment or anger. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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.jpg) Low Sunday (2019)The Sunday following the "high" feast of Easter, this is also known as Quasimodo Sunday, Close Sunday, or Low Easterday. "Low" probably refers to the lack of high ritual used on Easter, and not to the low attendance usual on this day. The name Quasimodo Sunday comes from the Introit of the mass which is said on this day. In Latin it begins with the phrase Quasi modo geniti infantes—"As newborn babes...." The famous character Quasimodo in Victor Hugo's novel, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, is said to have been found abandoned on this day, which marks the close of Easter week. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: pleasantamicable, amiable - Amicable implies being well disposed; amiable is acting well disposed and is commonly applied only to people—though sometimes it is used for occasions, while amicable is not applied to people at all but to human interactions and their outcomes. Amiable first meant "kind" or "lovely, lovable," and amicable first applied to things and meant "pleasant, benign." More... jolly - Comes from Old French jolif, "merry, festive, pleasant." More... merry - First meant "peaceful" or "pleasant," which is what it first meant in "Merry Christmas." More... | |