Word of the Day, July 31, 2022

[ ] July 31, 2022 Word of the Day [liegeman]( [Discuss]( Definition: (noun) A feudal vassal or subject. Synonyms: [feudatory]( [liege]( [vassal]( Usage: The liegeman was expected to provide military support if his lord went to battle. 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. Complete English Spelling & Pronunciation Rules [Complete English Spelling Pronunciation Rules] The latest volume in our best-selling Grammar Book series! Learn the rules and patterns that tell you exactly how any word should be spelled and pronounced. ✔ Go beyond "I before E except after C" and get all the rules and exceptions, all in one place, all explained in plain English. ✔ Simple tips and tricks to avoid the most common mistakes. [Buy now](as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=farlex-el-20) Idiom of the Day [winning ways]( — One's charming, endearing, or likeable personality or demeanor. [More...]( Article of the Day Seismology [Discuss]( Seismology is the scientific study of earthquakes—their origins, geographic distribution, and effects. Much of what we now know about the composition of the Earth and its internal structure comes from seismologic research. In recent years, seismologists have focused intense efforts on developing ways to predict earthquakes in hopes of minimizing casualties caused by seismic events. Unfortunately, a reliable method has yet to be developed. Why were six seismologists recently indicted in Italy? [More...]( Daily Grammar Lesson The Present Indicative vs. the Future Indicative [Discuss]( The present indicative describes things that are happening, are about to happen, or are believed to be happening. What does the future indicative describe? [More...]( This Day in History Daniel Defoe Placed in a Pillory (1703) [Discuss]( Although Defoe achieved literary immortality with the novel Robinson Crusoe and is called the father of modern journalism, he also produced eloquent, witty, often audacious tracts on public affairs during his prolific writing career. After Defoe's publication of a pamphlet that ruthlessly satirized the High Church Tories, he was arrested and placed in a pillory. According to legend, what did Defoe's pillory audience throw at him instead of the customary harmful and noxious objects? [More...]( Today's Birthday J.K. Rowling (1965) [Discuss]( Joanne Kathleen Rowling is the author of the Harry Potter book series, which has been credited with sparking an interest in reading at a time when children were thought to be abandoning books. She parlayed the series into a global brand, including the popular movie adaptations, worth an estimated $15 billion. All seven volumes of the series have broken sales records, and the last four have been the fastest-selling books in history. Where was Rowling when she first conceived the story? [More...]( Today's Holiday Jamaica Festival [Discuss]( Originally called the Independence Festival of Jamaica because it ended on [Jamaica]( Independence Day, the Jamaica Festival emphasizes the cultural roots, conservation, and revival of traditional art forms by ethnic groups—particularly music, dance, and games of African origin—as well as nurturing contemporary arts. Competitions determine who will perform each year, the categories of which include fine art, photo, and culinary exhibits, music, dance, plays, and literary readings. The festival has been held in [Kingston]( [Montego Bay]( and elsewhere on the island since 1963. [More...]( Quote of the Day [Discuss]( Beauty, n: the power by which a woman charms a lover and terrifies a husband. [Ambrose Bierce]( (1842-1914) 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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