Word of the Day, September 14, 2022

[ ] September 14, 2022 Word of the Day [pettifogger]( [Discuss]( Definition: (noun) A petty, quibbling, unscrupulous lawyer. Synonyms: [shyster]( Usage: He was by all accounts a pettifogger, and judges dreaded having him appear in their courtrooms. 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 [brazen it out]( — To act bravely and confidently when one is afraid or uncertain. [More...]( Article of the Day Flatiron Building [Discuss]( The Fuller Building in New York City was designed in the Beaux-Arts style by Chicago architect Daniel Burnham. Located on wedge-shaped lot, the triangular building resembled the flatirons of its day—hence the nickname—and stood in drastic contrast to the city's other structures. The Flatiron Building was met with skepticism upon its completion in 1902 but has since become a New York icon, and its "point" offices are known for their striking views. What is quirky about the building's bathrooms? [More...]( Daily Grammar Lesson Adjectival Prepositional Phrases [Discuss]( When a prepositional phrase modifies a noun, pronoun, gerund, or noun phrase (all of which function grammatically as nouns), it is considered to function as an adjective within the sentence. We call these "adjectival prepositional phrases," or sometimes just "adjective prepositional phrases." Where do they always appear in relation to the noun they are modifying? [More...]( This Day in History Harun al-Rashid Becomes Abbasid Caliph (786 CE) [Discuss]( The most famous Abbasid Caliph, Harun al-Rashid ruled from 786 to 809 CE. During his reign, Islamic society reached its zenith in terms of wealth, learning, and power, and Baghdad—the seat of his empire—became a cultural and commercial center. His vast empire spanned southwest Asia and northern Africa, and he had diplomatic relations with both China and Charlemagne's Frankish empire. What collection of stories includes a fictional depiction of Harun that is his best-known portrayal in the West? [More...]( Today's Birthday Alexander von Humboldt (1769) [Discuss]( A German naturalist and explorer, Humboldt traveled extensively and made observations and discoveries too numerous to count. Among other things, he discovered the connection between the Amazon and Orinoco river systems, surmised that lack of oxygen causes altitude sickness, studied the ocean current off the western coast of South America that was known for a time as the Humboldt Current, and added to an understanding of the development of the Earth's crust. To what did he devote his final years? [More...]( Today's Holiday Nicaragua Battle of San Jacinto Day [Discuss]( In [Nicaragua]( September 14 is a national holiday dedicated to the anniversary of the independence of [Central America]( and the battle at San Jacinto. Starting at 7:30 in the morning, the president awards the Presidential Medallion to the best students and teachers from around the country at the Plaza de la Fé Juan Pablo Segundo. Marching bands from 100 schools in [the capital]( and bands from the National Army and the Police participate in a parade that day. [More...]( Quote of the Day [Discuss]( Better three hours too soon than a minute too late. [William Shakespeare]( (1564-1616) 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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