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Friday, May 31, 2024 | View Archive ?
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Word of the Day

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parapraxis

Definition: (noun) A minor error, such as a slip of the tongue, thought to reveal a repressed motive.
Synonyms:slip-up, miscue, slip
Usage:She thought her verbal blunder was just a silly mistake, but her friend, a Freud enthusiast, tried to convince her that the parapraxis actually had great significance. Discuss. Play

Daily Grammar Lesson

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"Could" and Rhetorical Questions

"Could" is sometimes used informally in sarcastic or rhetorical questions that highlight a behavior someone finds irritating, unacceptable, or inappropriate. In these situations, "could" is often (but not always) used with what as a main verb? More... Discuss

Article of the Day

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The Death Drive

In his observations of World War I veterans, Sigmund Freud noticed that the men had a strange proclivity toward reenacting traumatic experiences. He also observed this tendency in young children who often play games that simulate unpleasant situations. To explain this, he introduced and later developed the concept of the death drive: a primitive impulse for destruction, decay, and death, manifested by a turning away from pleasure. What Freudian principle does the death drive violate? More... Discuss

This Day in History

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Union of South Africa Created (1910)

In 1910, the British colonies of Cape Colony, Transvaal, Natal, and Orange River were unified into the new Union of South Africa. Under the Union's constitution, power was centralized. Elections were held, and Louis Botha became the first prime minister. The Dutch language was given equal status with English, and each province retained its existing franchise qualifications. The Union became independent and withdrew from the Commonwealth exactly how many years after its founding? More... Discuss

Today's Birthday

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Henry Sidgwick (1838)

Sidgwick was a British philosopher whose Methods of Ethics is considered by some to be the most significant 19th-century ethical work in English. Drawing on the utilitarianism of John Stuart Mill and the categorical imperative of Immanuel Kant, he proposed a system of "universalistic hedonism" that would reconcile the conflict between the pleasure of self and the pleasure of others. He promoted higher education for women and cofounded what society devoted to studying paranormal events? More... Discuss

Quotation of the Day

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Subdue your appetites, my dears, and you've conquered human nature.

Charles Dickens (1812-1870) Discuss

Mismatch
Select word:
unnecessarily
decipherably
centrally
volitionally
illegibly
peripherally
unwillingly
well
disadvantageously
needfully

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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Complete the following sentence with the correct subordinating conjunction:
“You can only play outside ________ your father gets home.”

Spelling Bee
Difficulty level:
adj. Possessing valor; brave
Spell the word:

Match Up

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Select word:
arcanum
tizzy
contusion
foreknowledge
dither
bruise
precognition
pounder
pestle
secret

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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Royal Brunei Armed Forces Day

The formation of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces took place on May 31, 1961, and is commemorated each year. Brunei had been a British protectorate since 1888, dependent on the British armed forces for its defense. In 1961, Brunei recruits began training as part of a transition period toward independence for the country, which occurred in 1984. Around the country, there may be parades and military displays put on by various units of the armed forces. In the capital city of Bandar Seri Begawan, it is usually commemorated at the Taman Haji Sir Omar Ali Saifuddien in the city center. More... Discuss

Horoscope

Idiom of the Day

at a (single) stroke

— All at once, with a single decisive or powerful action. More... Discuss