Word of the Day, March 23, 2023

March 23, 2023 [The Free Dictionary]( Word of the Day [smattering]( [Discuss]( Definition: (noun) A small, scattered amount or number. Synonyms: [handful]( Usage: Her skin had a healthy glow, and her nose was dotted with a smattering of freckles. 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 [dark days]( — Times of extreme misfortune or difficulty. ["More...]( [Idiom video]( Article of the Day Extra Sensory Perception (ESP) [Discuss]( ESP is an alleged ability to acquire information by means other than the five main senses of taste, sight, touch, smell, and hearing. The term implies sources of information unknown to science. Types of ESP include clairvoyance, aura reading, telepathy, and astral projection. The study of such phenomena is often dubbed "parapsychology." Zener cards were a common research tool for parapsychologists in the early 20th century. What is drawn on each card, and how are they used? [More...]( Daily Grammar Lesson Using Parentheses [Discuss]( Parentheses indicate parenthetical information—that is, any additional information that is not integral to the writing that appears outside of the parentheses. This information may comprise a fragment (a word, phrase, or clause) or one or more complete sentences. What dictates how we use parentheses in relation to other punctuation? [More...]( This Day in History Russia's Czar Paul I Assassinated (1801) [Discuss]( After his mother, Catherine the Great, suffered a stroke, Paul I ascended to the throne. The new czar instituted a number of reforms that angered the nobility and provoked a conspiracy against him. On the night of his murder, Paul was confronted in his bedroom and pressured to sign his abdication. When he refused, the assassins struck him with a sword, strangled him, and trampled him to death. Though he did not participate in the attack, his successor knew about the plot. Who was he? [More...]( Today's Birthday Wernher von Braun (1912) [Discuss]( Devoted to the pursuit of rocketry and spaceflight since his teenage years, German rocket scientist Wernher von Braun was responsible for the successful development of the German V-2 rocket, thousands of which were launched against London and Antwerp during World War II's final year. Nevertheless, at the close of the war, von Braun was brought to the US and soon became a prime figure in the cold war arms race and later in the space program. What notable American projects did he work on? [More...]( Today's Holiday Pakistan Day [Discuss]( This national holiday is also known as Republic Day, and it is the anniversary of a 1940 [resolution]( calling for a [Muslim]( country for Muslim Indians. On the same day in 1956, Pakistan became an Islamic republic within the [British Commonwealth](. Pakistan Day is celebrated with parades and fairs. [More...]( Quote of the Day [Discuss]( The first precept was never to accept a thing as true until I knew it as such without a single doubt. [Rene Descartes]( (1596-1650) 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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