Daily Content Archive
(as of Sunday, August 26, 2018)| Word of the Day | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
festivity
| |||||||
| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
|---|---|
Infinitives as Non-Finite VerbsAn infinitive is the most basic form of a verb. It is "unmarked" (which means that it is not conjugated for tense or person), and it is preceded by the particle "to." Infinitives are also known as non-finite verbs. What does that mean? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
|---|---|
 Spring Heeled JackSpring Heeled Jack appears in Victorian-era English folklore as a devilish-looking creature with remarkable leaping ability. After the first alleged sighting in 1837, reports of his supposed exploits and attacks on young women began appearing in the press. Each account furnished him with additional diabolical features, such as clawed hands and glowing eyes. "Sightings" persisted until 1904, and he remains an enduring part of popular culture. What are some theories about the origin of the figure? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
|---|---|
 National Assembly of Quebec Adopts the Charter of the French Language (1977)In 1976, the Parti Québécois, a party of French-Canadian nationalists formed in 1970, won control of the provincial parliament. Among its first acts was the passage of La charte de la langue française—the Charter of the French Language. Also known as Bill 101, the controversial legislation made French the official language of Quebec and prohibited the use of English on signs and in most commercial transactions. What effect did the charter have on businesses in Quebec? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
|---|---|
 Robert Walpole, First Earl of Orford (1676)Walpole was an English statesman. Elected to the House of Commons in 1701, he later served as secretary of war. With the accession of George I, he rose rapidly to become first lord of the treasury and chancellor of the exchequer. With his consolidation of power, he effectively became the first British prime minister. He avoided foreign entanglement and kept England neutral until 1739, when he was forced into the War of Jenkins' Ear against Spain. How did the conflict get its name? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
|---|---|
 Never lose a chance of saying a kind word.William Makepeace Thackeray (1811-1863) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
|---|---|
beauty queen— A woman who has won, or looks as if she could win, a beauty pageant. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
|---|---|
 Namibia Heroes Day (2019)To honor those who lost their lives fighting for national freedom, Namibia has designated August 26 as Heroes' Day. On this day, thousands of Namibians gather at Ongulumbashe to celebrate. Representatives from all 13 regions give performances and cultural presentations, including traditional praise songs and dances. A re-enactment of the battle of Ongulumbashe concludes with the raising of the Namibian flag, as the real fighters did after each triumph in the war. In Namibia's capital city of Windhoek, the Heroes' Acre national monument was erected to honor the freedom fighters. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
|---|---|
Today's topic: small roomaedicule - A small room or structure used as a shrine—or a niche for a statue. More... cove - Comes from Old English cofa, "small room," from the Germanic root kubon, and came to mean "small hollow place in coastal rocks," and then "small bay." More... cabinet - Originally meant a small room and came to apply to the group of politicians who met in the room. More... conclave - Based on Latin con- and clavis, "key," as it was first an inner chamber or private room to which one would have needed a key, literally a "place that can be locked up," or a room or set of rooms that can be opened with only one key. More... | |