Word of the Day, August 13, 2023

August 13, 2023 [The Free Dictionary]( Word of the Day [ridgepole]( [Discuss]( Definition: (noun) A horizontal beam at the ridge of a roof to which the rafters are attached. Synonyms: [rooftree]( Usage: I knew a girl in Marysville who could walk the ridgepole of a roof. 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 Grammar Rules [Complete English Grammar Rules] An Amazon Best Seller! Finally, all the rules of English grammar, all in one book, explained in simple terms. ✔ 500+ pages of proper grammar instruction—2X more information than the leading grammar book! ✔ Hundreds of quizzes and thousands of example sentences. [Buy now]( Idiom of the Day [hand-to-mouth]( — Having, providing, or characterized by the bare minimum of money, food, or resources to survive, with little or nothing else to spare. ["More...]( [Idiom video]( Article of the Day Apartheid [Discuss]( Apartheid was a system of racial segregation enforced in South Africa for almost 50 years that was legally abolished in the early 1990s. Apartheid served not only to separate whites from non-whites, but also non-white groups from one another. The 1959 Sharpeville Massacre, in which police officers opened fire on unarmed protesters, killing 69 and injuring 186, was a major turning point in public opinion of South African apartheid. What does the word apartheid mean in Afrikaans? [More...]( Daily Grammar Lesson Absolute Phrases [Discuss]( An absolute phrase (also known as an absolute construction) is a grammatically independent group of words that serves to modify an entire sentence. Because an absolute phrase is not an integral part of the sentence, how is it always set apart? [More...]( This Day in History Michael Servetus Arrested as a Heretic (1553) [Discuss]( Servetus, a Spanish physician who was the first to accurately describe cardiopulmonary circulation, is perhaps best remembered for his theological writings, which ultimately led to his execution. His religious views, particularly his denial of the Trinity, alienated Roman Catholics and Protestants alike and led to his arrest and imprisonment in 1553. He escaped but was soon rearrested, convicted of heresy, and burned at the stake. What modern Christian sects consider him a spiritual ancestor? [More...]( Today's Birthday Annie Oakley (1860) [Discuss]( Oakley took up hunting at age nine and soon earned a reputation as a "dead shot." In her early 20s, she beat marksman Frank Butler in a shooting match and then married him. Together they joined Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. Oakley's famous act included hitting the thin edge of a playing card from 30 paces and shooting targets while looking into a mirror. She was also known for shooting the end off a cigarette held between Butler's lips, a trick she once performed with what future head of state? [More...]( Today's Holiday Nemoralia [Discuss]( The Nemoralia was an ancient Roman festival in honor of the goddess [Diana]( held at Nemi, in the territory of [Aricia]( about 16 miles southeast of Rome. Diana was worshipped throughout Rome and Latium (now western Italy) on August 13, the day on which her temple on the Aventine Hill had been dedicated by Servius Tullius. But her most famous cult was in Aricia, where the Nemoralia was observed to protect the vines and the fruit trees. It is still common in some parts of the Orthodox Christian Church for worshippers to make offerings of new wheat and cakes to the [Theotokos]( on that day. [More...]( Quote of the Day [Discuss]( Have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that never tires, and a touch that never hurts. [Charles Dickens]( (1812-1870) 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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