Daily Content Archive
(as of Thursday, April 6, 2017)| Word of the Day | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
|---|---|
Defining AdverbsAn adverb refers to any element in a sentence used to modify a verb, adjective, another adverb, or even an entire clause. Adverbs can be single words. They can also be phrases (called "adverbial phrases") or entire clauses, which are called what? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
|---|---|
 The Nepalese Royal MassacreOn June 1, 2001, Crown Prince Dipendra of Nepal opened fire on family members attending a royal party, killing his father, King Birendra, and 9 others before shooting himself. Dipendra remained in a coma for 3 days before succumbing to his wounds and was proclaimed king during that time. Because constitutional law and tradition prevented officials from accusing Dipendra of mass murder while he was alive, they initially claimed the shooting had been accidental. What was Dipendra's alleged motive? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
|---|---|
 Hostess Twinkies Are Invented (1930)The Twinkie was invented by baker James Dewar, who noticed that the shop's shortcake pans were only used during the strawberry season and otherwise sat idle. His thrifty idea to use the pans during the off-season led to the development of the banana-filled Twinkie snack cake. During a World War II banana shortage, vanilla filling replaced the original banana. Twinkies disappeared from US shelves in 2012 when Hostess declared bankruptcy but returned in 2013. What is the "Twinkie defense"? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
|---|---|
 Philip Henry Gosse (1810)An English naturalist, Gosse built the first marine aquarium and was an innovator in the field of marine biology. He was a member of the Plymouth Brethren, a Christian group that rejected the theory of evolution, and wrote many books on zoology, including Omphalos, an attempt to reconcile geological theories with the biblical account of creation. After his death, Gosse was caricatured as a despotic father in Father and Son, written by his son Edmund, who was also his what? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
|---|---|
 Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance.Jane Austen (1775-1817) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
|---|---|
in order that— So that; with the particular aim or purpose of. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
|---|---|
 Chakri Day (2018)Chakri Day is a national holiday in Thailand to commemorate the enthronement of Rama I, who founded the Chakri Dynasty in 1782. He was born Chao Phraya Chakri in 1737 and had become Thailand's leading general when a palace coup took place in Thon Buri. The dynasty he established has headed the country to this day, although the end of absolute monarchy came in 1932. The king was given the title Rama after his death. Ceremonies on April 6 honor his deeds and the founding of Bangkok as the capital. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
|---|---|
Today's topic: tiredlanguescent - If you are becoming tired, you are languescent. More... irk - Originally meant "grow tired"; a possible source is Old Norse yrkja, "work." More... lassate - Means tired or weary. More... late - Comes from Indo-European lad-, "slow, weary," which begat Latin lassus, "tired," before English late, meaning "slow." More... | |