Word of the Day, August 19, 2023

August 19, 2023 [The Free Dictionary]( Word of the Day [dieresis]( [Discuss]( Definition: (noun) A mark ( ¨ ) placed over the second of two adjacent vowels to indicate that they are to be pronounced as separate sounds rather than a diphthong, as in naïve. Synonyms: [umlaut]( Usage: The presence of a dieresis might indicate that a word originated in a foreign language. 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 [hanging offense]( — A crime, misdeed, or impropriety that is (hyperbolically) perceived to warrant death by hanging. Primarily heard in US. ["More...]( [Idiom video]( Article of the Day Sea Urchins [Discuss]( The sea urchin, a spiny sea creature related to the starfish, is found in oceans all over the world. Its body wall is a firm, globose shell, made of fused skeletal plates. Five rows of the skeletal plates are pierced by pores for its tube feet, which it uses, along with its spines, for locomotion. Sea urchin "roe," which is actually made from the organs that produce the roe, is considered a delicacy in Mediterranean regions and Japan, where it has been sold for what price? [More...]( Daily Grammar Lesson Nouns [Discuss]( Nouns are words that indicate a person, place, or thing. In a sentence, nouns can function as the subject or the object of a verb or preposition. Nouns can also follow linking verbs to rename or re-identify the subject of a sentence or clause. These are known as what? [More...]( This Day in History USS Constitution Defeats HMS Guerrière (1812) [Discuss]( The USS Constitution, better known as "Old Ironsides," is perhaps the most famous vessel in the history of the US Navy. One of the first frigates built for the Navy, the Constitution saw action in several wars and defeated the British frigate HMS Guerrière during the War of 1812. Later condemned as unseaworthy, the ship was saved from dismantling by public sentiment aroused by Oliver Wendell Holmes' poem "Old Ironsides." How did the wooden ship get its nickname? [More...]( Today's Birthday Gabrielle Bonheur "Coco" Chanel (1883) [Discuss]( Arguably the most important figure in 20th-century fashion, Chanel founded her first house of couture in 1913. Within five years, her innovative use of jersey fabric and accessories was attracting wealthy patrons. Her nonconformist designs stressed simplicity and comfort and revolutionized the fashion industry. The financial basis of her empire was her Chanel No. 5 perfume, introduced in 1922 and still popular today. What essential women's fashion staple was first popularized by Chanel? [More...]( Today's Holiday Lucerne International Festival of Music [Discuss]( The first Lucerne Festival was held in 1938, conducted by [Arturo Toscanini]( (1867-1957) at the former home of Richard Wagner. The [Swiss Festival Orchestra]( the festival's mainstay since 1943, is comprised of the best musicians in Switzerland. It is joined by other national groups—among them the [Lucerne Festival Strings]( well as internationally known orchestras from other countries. The program offers symphonic and chamber music as well as master classes, young artists' matinees, and a concert for seniors and persons with disabilities. [More...]( Quote of the Day [Discuss]( Nothing is so much to be feared as fear. [Henry David Thoreau]( (1817-1862) 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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