Daily Content Archive
(as of Wednesday, May 27, 2020)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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conflagration
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Collective Adjectives vs. Collective NounsCollective adjectives are often confused with collective nouns because they both refer to a group of people. How do they differ? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 À reboursÀ rebours is an 1884 novel by French author Joris-Karl Huysmans. Translated as Against Nature or Against the Grain, the novel follows Jean Des Esseintes, the last member of a noble family. Disgusted with his decadent life in Paris, he retreats to the countryside and immerses himself in art and philosophy, becoming somewhat deranged. Though not mentioned by name, À rebours is thought to be the book that heavily influences what famous novel's titular character? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Le Paradis Massacre (1940)The Le Paradis massacre was a WWII war crime committed by German soldiers under the command of officer Fritz Knöchlein. After becoming isolated from their regiment and running out of ammunition during the Battle of France, a group of British soldiers surrendered to German troops. They were then led across the road, lined up against a wall, and shot. Ninety-seven British troops died. Two survived and hid, but they were captured several days later. What happened to Knöchlein after the war? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Julia Ward Howe (1819)An American author and social reformer, Howe wrote and lectured on behalf of women's suffrage, African-American emancipation, and other causes and helped found a world peace organization. In November 1861, after watching Union troops march into battle during the US Civil War, she wrote "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," her most famous work. Published in February 1862 in The Atlantic Monthly, it became the semiofficial song of the Union Army. Where did the music for the song come from? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 There lies at the back of every creed something terrible and hard for which the worshiper may one day be required to suffer.E. M. Forster (1879-1970) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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in its infancy— In the early, nascent period of development or implementation. (Typically of an area of activity, interest, research, etc.) More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Bergen International Festival (2024)The Bergen International Festival is the major cultural event in Norway, and features more than 100 events in music, drama, folklore, opera, ballet, and the visual arts. Most of the musical events are held in Bergen's Viking Castle (built in 1250), at the Grieg Concert Hall, at Edvard Grieg's home (known as "Troldhaugen"), and at Lysoen, the island home of composer and violinist Ole Bull. Although the primary attraction is music, children's programs, literary events, and art exhibits are featured as well. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: pigmentspastel - First pertained to pigment or paste and evolved to mean light or pale colors. More... excipient - An inactive substance that serves as the vehicle or medium for a drug; it is also the material or surface that receives the pigments in painting. More... primary colors, secondary colors - In dyes, pigments, and paints, the primary colors are red, yellow, and blue—which mix to make the secondary colors: orange, green, and purple. More... raw sienna, burnt sienna - Raw sienna is a brownish-yellow earth color obtained from a natural clay containing iron and manganese; burnt sienna is reddish-brown. More... | |