Word of the Day, October 4, 2022

[ ] October 4, 2022 Word of the Day [snuggery]( [Discuss]( Definition: (noun) A small secluded room. Synonyms: [cubby]( [cubbyhole]( Usage: Now that they were alone, in this snuggery, which seemed barely large enough to contain so great a man's moustaches, the parties understood each other. 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 [close as the bark to the tree]( — As connected as is possible. Often used to describe a particularly intimate relationship or friendship. [More...]( Article of the Day Brandenburg Gate [Discuss]( The Brandenburg Gate is the last surviving town gate of Berlin, Germany. When completed in 1791, the lavish gate greeted visitors to the boulevard that led directly to the Prussian palace. Architect Carl G. Langhans modeled the gate after the Propylea, the gateway to the Acropolis in Athens. On top was the "Quadriga of Victory," a statue of a chariot drawn by four horses. Heavily damaged in World War II, the gate was restored in 1957. Why was it closed in 1961, and when did it reopen? [More...]( Daily Grammar Lesson Intransitive Verbs in the "Middle" Voice [Discuss]( While the majority of reflexive verbs are transitive, with reflexive pronouns as their objects, certain intransitive verbs can be used to modify a subject (usually an inanimate object) that is also the receiver of the action. What happens to intransitive verbs in the middle voice? [More...]( This Day in History Boris Yeltsin Orders Tanks to Storm Russian Parliament (1993) [Discuss]( As president of an independent Russia, Boris Yeltsin sought to end state control of the economy but clashed with parliament, which was controlled by former Communists. When Yeltsin suspended the parliament, it retaliated by naming Vice President Aleksandr Rutskoi as acting president, and anti-Yeltsin forces barricaded themselves inside the parliament building. The military interceded on Yeltsin's side and, after a bloody battle, troops recaptured the parliament building. What was the death toll? [More...]( Today's Birthday Buster Keaton (1895) [Discuss]( Though his career had its ups and downs, Keaton is recognized today as one of silent cinema's greatest actors and filmmakers. He is remembered as much for his acrobatic skill as for his trademark deadpan expression, both of which he developed performing in vaudeville as a child and honed over the course of his decades-long career on the silver screen, starring in such classics as The General and Steamboat Bill, Jr. How did Joseph Frank Keaton come to be known as Buster? [More...]( Today's Holiday Fiesta of San Francisco (San Pacho) [Discuss]( In [Quibdó]( [Colombia]( the Fiesta of [San Francisco]( is one of the biggest celebrations of the year. The procession on October 4 is the highlight of the festival, but several days of sports—including boxing, horse racing, cycling, and pig-catching contests—precede this. The streets are filled with people dressed up as devils, savages, and various animals, and there are dancing and fireworks every night. On the final day, there is an afternoon procession, in which everyone accompanies the statue of St. Francis as it is carried through the streets of Quibdó. [More...]( Quote of the Day [Discuss]( Universities incline wits to sophistry and affectation. [Francis Bacon]( (1561-1626) 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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