Daily Content Archive
(as of Sunday, February 17, 2019)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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cerebrate
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Defining the Exclamation PointAn exclamation point or exclamation mark ( ! ) is a punctuation mark commonly used to express strong, intense emotions in declarations. What else can it be used to add emphasis to? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 Terror BirdsPhorusrhacids, commonly known as "terror birds" because of their role as apex predators, were large, carnivorous, flightless birds that roamed S America during the Cenozoic era, from about 62 million to 2 million years ago. They are believed to have migrated to N America when the Isthmus of Panama formed, bridging the formerly separated continents. The birds ranged in height from about 3 to 10 ft (1 to 3 m) and were likely fast runners. What are thought to be their closest modern-day relatives? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 The Armory Show Opens in New York City (1913)The Armory Show was an international exhibition of modern art held in 1913 at the 69th-regiment armory in New York City. Representing a range of avant-garde movements in Europe, the show was one of the most important art exhibitions ever held in the US. The Armory Show aroused the curiosity of the public and helped to change the direction of American painting. What painting at the exhibition was singled out by hostile critics as emblematic of the so-called insanity and degeneracy of modern art? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Ruth Barbara Rendell, Baroness Rendell of Babergh, CBE (1930)Born in London, Rendell became an author of murder mysteries and psychological thrillers in the 1960s. She has since published dozens of award-winning novels—many featuring her Chief Inspector Wexford—and has been recognized for her sharp prose and psychological insight by both critics and audiences. Originally a journalist, Rendell was fired after writing about a society dinner she did not attend. What notable misfortune, which was absent from Rendell's article, befell the speaker of the event? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 The almighty dollar, that great object of universal devotion throughout our land, seems to have no genuine devotees in these peculiar villages.Washington Irving (1783-1859) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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make game of (someone or something)— To ridicule, mock, or tease someone or something; to make fun of someone or something. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Quirinalia (2025)Quirinus was an ancient Roman deity who closely resembled Mars, the god of war. His name is associated with that of the Quirinal, one of the seven hills on which Rome was built. Eventually, Quirinus was identified with Romulus, one of the legendary founders of Rome, and his festival on February 17 coincided with the date on which Romulus was believed to have been deified. This festival was also associated with the advent of spring warfare, when the shields and weapons of the army, which had been purified and retired for the winter, were brought out. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: swindleconfidence trick - First a swindle in which the victim was persuaded to entrust money or valuables to the swindler. More... swindler, swindle - Swindler and swindle are from German Schwindler, "promoter of wild schemes; cheat." More... chizz - To chizz someone is to cheat or swindle them. More... honeyfugle, honeyfuggle - To honeyfugle or honeyfuggle is to dupe, deceive, or swindle. More... | |