Word of the Day, January 26, 2023

January 26, 2023 [The Free Dictionary]( Word of the Day [samizdat]( [Discuss]( Definition: (noun) A system of clandestine printing and distribution of dissident or banned literature. Synonyms: [underground press]( Usage: The samizdat was successful in disseminating the banned literature until an informant turned in its chief operator. 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 Punctuation Rules [Complete English Punctuation Rules] An Amazon Best Seller! The only punctuation guide with simple, easy-to-remember rules for how to use—and not use—every punctuation mark. ✔ Side-by-side examples of both correct and incorrect punctuation. ✔ Quizzes after every topic to help you retain what you learn. [Buy now]( Idiom of the Day [a fine state of affairs]( — A situation that has gone wrong and is very problematic. The term is an instance of irony or sarcasm. ["More...]( [Idiom video]( Article of the Day Film Noir [Discuss]( Film noir is a style of film characterized by low-key lighting, bleak urban settings, and corrupt, cynical characters who find themselves entangled in the criminal underworld. This dark genre, which gave rise to the film archetypes of the hardboiled private detective and the femme fatale, was especially popular in Hollywood in the 1940s. Classic examples of film noir include The Maltese Falcon and The Big Sleep. Who first coined the term film noir, and what does it mean? [More...]( Daily Grammar Lesson Interrogative Pronouns and Indirect Questions [Discuss]( Most often, interrogative pronouns are used in direct questions, representing the person or thing that is being asked about. However, interrogative pronouns can also appear within indirect questions, which are used for what? [More...]( This Day in History Beaumont Siblings Disappear without a Trace (1966) [Discuss]( The Beaumont children's disappearance from an Australian beach launched what would become one of the largest police investigations in Australian criminal history. On a hot summer day in 1966, nine-year-old Jane Beaumont took her two younger siblings to a nearby beach, but they never returned home. Police investigations revealed that the children had been seen with a strange man and later walking alone, but the case was never solved. In what way did their disappearance change Australian society? [More...]( Today's Birthday Douglas MacArthur (1880) [Discuss]( MacArthur is a major figure in US military and diplomatic history. He commanded a brigade in France during World War I and was commander of the Philippine military establishment in the late 1930s, but he is best remembered for the vital role he played in the Pacific theater of World War II and for his command of UN forces during the Korean War. Many Americans viewed MacArthur as a hero, but he was suddenly relieved of his post by President Truman at the height of the Korean War for what reason? [More...]( Today's Holiday India Republic Day [Discuss]( This holiday is an important national festival in India, celebrating the day in 1950 when India's ties with Britain were severed and the country became a fully independent [republic](. The holiday is marked with parades and much celebration in all the state capitals, but the festivities in [Delhi]( are especially grand. There is a mammoth parade with military units, floats from each state, dancers and musicians, and fly-overs. [Independence Day]( on August 15 is also a national holiday, but it is observed chiefly with speech-making and none of the grandeur of Republic Day. [More...]( Quote of the Day [Discuss]( Habits in writing as in life are only useful if they are broken as soon as they cease to be advantageous. [W. Somerset Maugham]( (1874-1965) 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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