Word of the Day, January 12, 2023

January 12, 2023 [tfd]( Word of the Day [facetious]( [Discuss]( Definition: (adjective) Playfully jocular; humorous. Synonyms: [bantering]( [tongue-in-cheek]( Usage: She was quite gullible and could never tell when his remarks were facetious or when he was being serious. Missing Idiom Contest The Free Dictionary has the largest collection of English idioms in the world. But we are 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]( Idiom of the Day [inopportune moment]( — An unfortunate or inconvenient moment in time. ["More...]( [Idiom video]( Article of the Day The Daily Planet [Discuss]( The Daily Planet is a newspaper featured in the Superman stories of DC Comics. Joe Shuster, Superman's co-creator, based the newspaper on his former employer, The Toronto Daily Star. In the fictional city of Metropolis, Superman's alter ego, Clark Kent, works at the Daily Planet alongside fellow journalist Lois Lane. Though the Daily Planet and its globe-topped building are famous today, the paper had a different name when Superman debuted in 1938. What was it called? [More...]( Daily Grammar Lesson "Be" as an Auxiliary Verb vs. "Be" as a Linking Verb [Discuss]( We must be careful not to confuse how "be" functions as a linking verb with how it functions as an auxiliary verb. When it is used as an auxiliary, "be" is no longer an independent verb describing the subject of the sentence. What does it do instead? [More...]( This Day in History The Caves of Nerja Are Rediscovered (1959) [Discuss]( One of Spain's major tourist attractions is the Caves of Nerja, a series of caverns near the town of Nerja in the Province of Málaga. The caves were inhabited by prehistoric peoples, who left their mark in the form of paintings and other artifacts. Today, visitors can tour parts of the caves' three galleries and view skeletons and other items on display there. Concerts are also regularly held in one of the caves' many chambers. How did five friends inadvertently rediscover the caves in 1959? [More...]( Today's Birthday Spiridon Louis (1873) [Discuss]( Following the decision to revive the Olympic Games at the end of the 19th century, all eyes were on Athens, where the first modern games were held in 1896. Greek competitor Spiridon Louis won the first marathon event of the games and instantly became a national hero. He was first across the finish despite having allegedly taken a break from the race to have a glass of wine at an inn. It helped that some of his competitors collapsed along the way. Why was the third-place finisher disqualified? [More...]( Today's Holiday Hostos Day [Discuss]( [Eugenio Maria de Hostos]( (1839-1903) was a [Puerto Rican]( philosopher and patriot who became a leader of the opposition to Spanish colonial rule in the 19th century. He campaigned for the education of women in Brazil, and his books on law and education triggered reforms in other [Latin American]( countries. He even sponsored the first railroad between Chile and Argentina, across the Andes Mountains. The anniversary of his birth is observed as a public holiday in Puerto Rico on the second Monday in January. [More...]( Quote of the Day [Discuss]( The sun was like a great visiting presence that stimulated and took its due from all animal energy. When it flung wide its cloak and stepped down over the edge of the fields at evening, it left behind it a spent and exhausted world. [Willa Cather]( (1873-1947) 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. [Apple]( [Android]( [Kindle]( [Windows]( [The Free Dictionary Pro App] The PRO version, with expanded offline content. - No ads. - A more comprehensive English offline dictionary, plus 13 other offline dictionaries: Spanish, French, German, Italian, Simplified Chinese, Portuguese, Dutch, Norwegian, Greek, Arabic, Polish, Turkish, and Russian. - Offline translations of English into more than 40 languages, plus dozens of other offline translation options. - Plus all the content of the classic free app! [Apple]( [Android]( [Kindle]( [Unsubscribe]( | [Forward](mailto:?subject=Word of%20the%20Day%20from%20TheFreeDictionary&body=Hi%20there!%20Thought%20you%20would%20find%20this%20interesting!%0A%0AWant%20to%20learn%20a%20new%20word%20every%20day?%20https%3A%2F%2Fword-of-the-day.thefreedictionary.com%2Fsubscribe.aspx) | [Terms of Use]( | [Privacy policy]( | [Advertise here]( [TheFreeDictionary logo] © 2023 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.