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Word of the Day

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pompous

Definition: (adjective) Characterized by excessive self-esteem or exaggerated dignity.
Synonyms:overblown, grandiloquent, portentous
Usage:He read the proclamation aloud in a pompous voice, although nobody was paying attention. Discuss. Play

Daily Grammar Lesson

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Using Periods with Quotation Marks

If a sentence uses quotation marks to indicate something that another person has said, and the quotation marks appear at the end of the sentence, the period can appear in one of two places. In American English, the punctuation used at the end of direct speech always appears within the quotation marks. However, in British English, where are periods that end quotations usually placed? More... Discuss

Article of the Day

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Les Misérables

Les Misérables is a novel by Victor Hugo that focuses on the life of Jean Valjean, an ex-convict struggling to redeem himself. It examines the nature of good and evil, delving into French history, politics, moral philosophy, law, and the nature of love. Published in 1862, the novel helped make Hugo the most successful writer of his day. Now, more than 150 years later, the book and its many adaptations continue to resonate with the public. What did critics first think of it? More... Discuss

This Day in History

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Ecuador Gains Independence from Gran Colombia (1830)

Prior to the arrival of the Spaniards, Ecuador was controlled by the Inca empire. Francisco Pizarro's subordinate, Benalcázar, entered the area in 1533. Not finding the wealth of the mythical El Dorado, he and other conquistadors moved restlessly on, and the region became a colonial backwater. Ecuador remained under Spanish control until 1822, when it was joined to Gran Colombia. With the dissolution of that union in 1830, Ecuador gained its independence. Why is 1859 called the "Terrible Year"? More... Discuss

Today's Birthday

 WOOD EMBOSSED APPLIQUE 2 3/4" X 11 1/2 HQ398

Ole Worm (1588)

Worm was a Danish physician and antiquarian who was the personal physician of King Christian IV of Denmark and served Copenhagen during plague epidemics. Worm's chief contributions to medical science were in embryology. As a natural philosopher, he assembled a vast collection of stuffed and mounted animals, fossils, and other curiosities. A collector of early Scandinavian literature and texts written in the runic alphabet, he wrote extensively on rune stones. What are the Wormian bones? More... Discuss

Quotation of the Day

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And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country.

John F. Kennedy (1917-1963) Discuss

Mismatch
Select word:
necessitate
go
succeed
clean
unstrain
tense
malfunction
obviate
dirty
miscarry

Match each word in the left column with its antonym (opposite) on the right. When finished, click Answer to see the results. Good luck!

 

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Hangman

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Grammar Quiz

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Identify the prepositional phrase in the following sentence:
“We had to go home early because of the big storm.”

Spelling Bee
Difficulty level:
adj. Growing or remaining under water
Spell the word:

Match Up

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Select word:
cajole
veer
sashay
intertwine
confute
disprove
swerve
blarney
enlace
strut

Match each word in the left column with its synonym on the right. When finished, click Answer to see the results. Good luck!

 

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Today's Holiday

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Lemuralia

In ancient Rome, the lemures were the ghosts of the family's dead, who were considered to be troublesome and therefore had to be exorcized on a regular basis. The Lemuralia, or Lemuria, was a yearly festival held on the 9th, 11th, and 13th of May to get rid of the lemures. Participants walked barefoot, cleansed their hands three times, and threw black beans behind them nine times to appease the spirits of the dead. On the third day of the festival, a merchants' festival was held to ensure a prosperous year for business. More... Discuss

Horoscope

Idiom of the Day

take a breather

— To take a short pause or hiatus (from something). Discuss