Word of the Day, September 29, 2022

[ ] September 29, 2022 Word of the Day [netherworld]( [Discuss]( Definition: (noun) The world of the dead. Synonyms: [Scheol]( [underworld]( [Hades]( [infernal region]( [Hell]( Usage: He had nightmares about going to some fiery, haunted netherworld and awoke the next morning vowing to repent. 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 [catch (on) fire]( — To begin to burn, usually after being touched by an existing fire. [More...]( Article of the Day Murphy's Law [Discuss]( Murphy's Law is the humorous axiom stating that anything that can possibly go wrong will go wrong. Its namesake is likely Edward A. Murphy, an engineer on US Air Force rocket-sled experiments. During one trial, someone methodically wired each sensor involved in an experiment backwards, prompting Murphy to remark, "If there are two or more ways to do something, and one of those ways can result in a catastrophe, then someone will do it." How did Murphy's Law become known to the public? [More...]( Daily Grammar Lesson Using Prepositions with Verbs [Discuss]( Certain verbs require prepositions in order to connect to their sentences' objects. These combinations, known as "prepositional verbs," allow the prepositions to act as necessary links between verbs and nouns or gerunds. What are the prepositions used in these combinations sometimes called? [More...]( This Day in History Japan Resumes Diplomatic Relations with China (1972) [Discuss]( The first Sino-Japanese War in the late 19th century damaged relations between the two countries for decades, as it marked the emergence of imperial Japan and saw harsh terms imposed on a badly defeated China. Relations did not improve until Kakuei Tanaka was elected prime minister of Japan in 1972. Shortly after his election, Tanaka visited China and signed an agreement establishing diplomatic relations between Japan and the Beijing regime. Who else made a historic visit to China in 1972? [More...]( Today's Birthday Miguel de Cervantes (1547) [Discuss]( Cervantes was a Spanish author best known for Don Quixote de la Mancha, his novel about an aging "knight." A superb burlesque of the popular romances of chivalry, the work was an enormous success and has had an indelible effect on the development of the European novel. Cervantes himself led an eventful life: he was imprisoned several times, captured by pirates, and sold as a slave. How long was he enslaved before his family managed to scrape together the money to secure his release? [More...]( Today's Holiday Election of the Lord Mayor of London [Discuss]( Since 1546, [Michaelmas]( has been the day on which the [Lord Mayor of London]( is elected each year. Two candidates are chosen from among the city aldermen who have already served a term of office as sheriff. The ceremony begins when the current Lord Mayor, two sheriffs, and 26 aldermen walk from the Mansion House to Guildhall. The candidates proceed to the Aldermen's Court, a body of 13 aldermen whose job it is to select the mayor. Once the voting is over, an ornate horse-drawn coach carries the new mayor to the [Mansion House]( the Lord Mayor's official residence since 1753. [More...]( Quote of the Day [Discuss]( Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent. [Victor Hugo]( (1802-1885) 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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