Word of the Day, July 8, 2022

[ ] July 8, 2022 Word of the Day [calamitous]( [Discuss]( Definition: (adjective) Having extremely unfortunate or dire consequences; bringing ruin. Synonyms: [disastrous]( [fatal]( [fateful]( [black]( Usage: Sire, I ask your majesty's pardon for the calamitous news which I bring. Missing Idiom Contest The Free Dictionary has the largest collection of English idioms in the world. But we're always looking for more to add, and we want your help! Every so often we hear from users who have looked up an idiom on The Free Dictionary that it was not found in the database. Maybe it was some expression they heard at work, or some phrase they grew up hearing their grandmother say. If you know an idiom that isn't already defined on The Free Dictionary, [send it to us]( and you might win $150 USD. The Farlex Financial Dictionary [The Farlex Financial Dictionary] New! Define your success with the essential financial and business dictionary. ✔ 19,000+ entries covering both basic and advanced concepts—nearly 4X more than the leading financial dictionary! ✔ Cut through the jargon with clear, in-depth definitions backed by industry expertise. [Buy now](as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=farlex-el-20) Idiom of the Day [talk twenty to the dozen]( — To talk (to someone) very rapidly, hurriedly, and/or energetically. [More...]( Article of the Day Princess Caraboo [Discuss]( "Princess Caraboo" was a famous imposter in 19th-century England. Her real-name was Mary Baker, and she was a cobbler's daughter. She invented a fictitious language and created an exotic persona, claiming to be Princess Caraboo from the island of Javasu. She alleged that she had been captured by pirates but managed to jump from their ship and swim to safety. For several weeks, Princess Caraboo enjoyed the hospitality and company of local society. How was her true identity finally uncovered? [More...]( Daily Grammar Lesson Defining Linking Verbs [Discuss]( Linking verbs are used to describe the state of being of the subject of a clause. Unlike action verbs, they connect the subject to the predicate of the clause without expressing any action. What are linking verbs also known as? [More...]( This Day in History Sweden Defeated at the Battle of Poltava (1709) [Discuss]( During the Great Northern War, neighboring countries sought to break Swedish supremacy in the Baltic area. Its most famous battle is likely the Battle of Poltava, which occurred after Charles XII of Sweden invaded Ukraine and—lacking reinforcements and seeking a stronghold—laid siege to Poltava. When the battle began, 45,000 Russian troops faced just 14,000 Swedish soldiers. The Russian victory effectively ended Sweden's role as a major power. What did the Russians do with the Swedish prisoners? [More...]( Today's Birthday Ferdinand, Graf von Zeppelin (1838) [Discuss]( Zeppelin began working with balloons for human transport as an observer during the American Civil War. In 1891, he retired from the Prussian army to devote himself to building motor-driven airships. Zeppelin invented the first rigid airship in 1900, but the experiment exhausted his funds. Luckily, public opinion was so strongly in favor of his airship project that donations largely financed his future work. Whom did his granddaughter later threaten to sue for sullying her family's name? [More...]( Today's Holiday Caribbean Festival (Feast of Fire) [Discuss]( The annual Caribbean Festival in [Santiago de Cuba]( also known as the Feast of Fire, is dedicated to preserving and promoting the cultural traditions of the [Caribbean](. In addition to numerous performances of music and dancing, there are exhibitions of culinary arts, painting, crafts, drama, [religious rituals]( and poetry. Each year the festival gives special focus to one of the Caribbean countries. The "Serpent Parade" is a high point of the Festival, with throngs of dancing people winding their way through the streets of Santiago de Cuba. [More...]( Quote of the Day [Discuss]( No enemy is worse than bad advice. [Sophocles]( (496 BC-406 BC) Mobile apps from TheFreeDictionary.com [The Free Dictionary Classic Free App] The classic free version, downloaded more than 6 million times! - Multiple dictionaries, encyclopedias, and thesauruses in one place. - 14 languages: English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Simplified Chinese, Portuguese, Dutch, Norwegian, Greek, Arabic, Polish, Turkish, and Russian. - Online translations of English into more than 40 languages, plus dozens of other translation options. 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