Word of the Day, August 26, 2022

[ ] August 26, 2022 Word of the Day [gastropod]( [Discuss]( Definition: (noun) Any of various mollusks of the class Gastropoda, such as the snail, slug, cowrie, or limpet, characteristically having a single, usually coiled shell or no shell at all, a ventral muscular foot for locomotion, and eyes and feelers located on a distinct head. Synonyms: [univalve]( Usage: The sound of a shell crushing beneath his foot told him that he had just caused a gastropod's demise. 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 Idioms & Slang Dictionary [The Farlex Idioms Slang Dictionary] New! The most complete collection of idioms and slang in the English language. Thousands more words and phrases than the leading idioms dictionaries! ✔ 17,000+ entries covering idioms, slang, phrasal verbs, and more from throughout the English-speaking world. ✔ Example sentences for every definition showing how the term is used in real life by native speakers. [Buy now](as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=farlex-el-20) Idiom of the Day [ball hog]( — sports A player who monopolizes the ball without including teammates in an attempt to score, move the ball, or maintain possession. Usually used for basketball and football (soccer). [More...]( Article of the Day Kabuki [Discuss]( Kabuki, a popular form of Japanese drama, is known for its spectacular staging, elaborate costumes, and striking makeup in place of masks. It originated in 1603, when a woman named Izumo no Okuni began performing a new style of dance that became instantly popular. Rival troupes quickly formed, and kabuki evolved into an ensemble dance performed by women—a form much different from its modern incarnation in which men play all the roles. Why were women banned from the kabuki stage in 1629? [More...]( Daily Grammar Lesson Predicate Nouns [Discuss]( Nouns that follow linking verbs are known as predicate nouns (sometimes known as predicative nouns). These serve to rename or re-identify the subject. If the noun is accompanied by any direct modifiers (such as articles, adjectives, or prepositional phrases), the entire noun phrase acts in what way? [More...]( This Day in History Pope John Paul I Elevated to Papacy (1978) [Discuss]( Born Albino Luciani, Pope John Paul I was the first pope to choose a double name, a decision that honored his two immediate predecessors, Pope John XXIII and Pope Paul VI. Refusing to have the traditional papal coronation, he instead opted for a simplified ceremony. His 33-day papacy was one of the shortest reigns in papal history, resulting in the most recent "Year of Three Popes." Though several conspiracy theories emerged after Pope John Paul I's sudden death, what most likely killed him? [More...]( Today's Birthday Julio Cortázar (1914) [Discuss]( Cortázar was an Argentinean novelist who gained recognition as one of the century's major experimental writers. A permanent resident of France after 1951, his works reflect his interest in French Surrealism, psychoanalysis, photography, jazz, and revolutionary Latin American politics. His masterpiece, Rayuela—translated as Hopscotch—creates a world in which eroticism, humor, and play offer solace for life's cruelty and despair. What is unique about the novel's structure? [More...]( Today's Holiday Tomatina [Discuss]( Regardless of which legend one believes, what began in 1945 as a few tossed tomatoes as a show of disdain has developed into full-fledged [tomato warfare]( in [Buñol]( [Valencia]( Spain, on the last Wednesday in August. Residents prepare for the impending food fight by protecting their storefronts and homes with plastic and donning special clothing. Thousands of pounds of tomatoes are trucked into town and dropped off at the Plaza del Pueblo, and the light-hearted battle commences. After the cleanup, celebrants continue to enjoy the festival's fireworks, parades, food, and music. [More...]( Quote of the Day [Discuss]( Democracy passes into despotism. 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