Word of the Day

Word of the Day

Check here every day for new ESL content.

Word of the Day

comeuppance discuss

Definition:(noun) A punishment or retribution that one deserves; one's just deserts.
Synonyms:deserts
Usage:The central character is an evil man who gets his comeuppance in the end.

Article of the Day

Robot Combat

Though no longer the televised spectacle it was around the turn of the century, robot combat continues to be the focus of numerous tournaments in which two or more radio-controlled machines are pitted against one another and directed to destroy or disable their opponents. Such robots range from tiny "fleaweight" devices to sophisticated contraptions weighing more than 300 pounds and equipped with weapons such as rammers, flippers, and overhead axes. What weapons have been banned in competition? More... Discuss

Daily Grammar Lesson

Functions of the Relative Pronoun

A relative pronoun is a type of pronoun used to connect a relative clause to the main clause in a sentence. In a relative clause, the relative pronoun functions in one of three ways. What are they? More... Discuss

Idiom of the Day

be running on fumes

— To be continuing to operate with no or very little enthusiasm, energy, or resources left. More...


This Day in History

Circus Acrobat Otto Witte Crowned King of Albania? (1913)

Witte was a German citizen and circus acrobat who claimed to have impersonated his way into being crowned King of Albania in 1913—by some accounts, on August 13. According to Witte, he enjoyed the royal harem and reigned for several days before being discovered as an impostor. Though he was likely lying, his story was picked up by several publications, including Time magazine. What novel may have given Witte the idea for his story, and what other novel was then based on Witte? More... Discuss

Today's Birthday

Lucy Stone (1818)

In 1847, Stone became the first Massachusetts woman to graduate college. Not long after, she began speaking on women's rights. An effective orator, she is said to have swayed antagonistic audiences and inspired Susan B. Anthony to join the cause. She kept her own name after marriage as a protest against the unequal laws applied to married women, and others who did the same called themselves "Lucy Stoners." She caused an uproar by wearing "bloomers." What were they, and why were they so named? More... Discuss

Today's Holiday

Nemoralia

The Nemoralia was an ancient Roman festival in honor of the goddess Diana held at Nemi, in the territory of Aricia about 16 miles southeast of Rome. Diana was worshipped throughout Rome and Latium (now western Italy) on August 13, the day on which her temple on the Aventine Hill had been dedicated by Servius Tullius. But her most famous cult was in Aricia, where the Nemoralia was observed to protect the vines and the fruit trees. It is still common in some parts of the Orthodox Christian Church for worshippers to make offerings of new wheat and cakes to the Theotokos on that day. More... Discuss

Quote of the Day
One quality may be the contrary of another; thus justice is the contrary of injustice, whiteness of blackness, and so on.
Aristotle
(384 BC-322 BC) Discuss

Word Trivia

Today's topic: presence

hoodoo - A person who practices voodoo; the word also describes a person or thing whose presence is supposed to bring bad luck. More...

al fresco - Implies the presence of some nearby structure (one does not hike al fresco). More...

pyrosis - Heartburn is actually pyrosis, caused by the presence of gastric secretions, called reflux, in the lower esophagus. More...

evince - To indicate, to reveal the presence of a quality or feeling. More...


Grammar Quiz
Is the italicized word in the phrasal verb (in bold) in the following sentence functioning as a particle or a preposition?
“We’re looking for a substitute teacher to fill in next semester.”



Spelling Bee
difficulty level:
score: -
n. A lengthy, formal treatise, especially one written by a candidate for the doctoral degree at a university; a thesis
 
spell the word:

Match Up
Select word:










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

 

Hangman

WordHub
Please wait...

Mismatch
Select word:










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

 
Menu
Translate »