Word of the Day, August 24, 2023

August 24, 2023 [The Free Dictionary]( Word of the Day [befuddled]( [Discuss]( Definition: (adjective) Perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements; filled with bewilderment. Synonyms: [bewildered]( [confounded]( [baffled]( [mixed-up]( [bemused]( [lost]( Usage: The audience was befuddled by the speaker's contradictory statements. 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 [find (something) out the hard way]( — To learn or discover something through personal experience, especially that which is difficult, painful, or unpleasant. Can also be phrased as "find out about something the hard way." ["More...]( [Idiom video]( Article of the Day Hafez [Discuss]( Hafez was a 14th-century Persian mystic and poet. His ghazals, or lyrical poems, are noted for the beautiful manner in which the themes of love, mysticism, and Sufism are presented. Much that is known about Hafez comes from legend and myth, though scholars believe he was the disciple of the Attar of Shiraz. Hafez faced charges of blasphemy during his life over the content of his poetry, but an elaborate tomb was erected in his honor 20 years after his death. What is inscribed on his tombstone? [More...]( Daily Grammar Lesson Modal Auxiliary Verbs - Might [Discuss]( The modal verb "might" is most often used to express an unlikely or uncertain possibility. How is "might" used in reported speech? [More...]( This Day in History British Troops Burn the White House (1814) [Discuss]( During the War of 1812, a year after US troops burned Canadian Parliament Buildings in the Battle of York, British troops retaliated by marching on Washington, DC, and setting fire to its public buildings—including the Capitol and the White House. According to some accounts, First Lady Dolley Madison refused to leave the White House until just moments before British troops arrived, gathering valuables, documents, and other items of importance, including what notable painting? [More...]( Today's Birthday Jorge Luis Borges (1899) [Discuss]( Borges was an Argentine poet, essayist, and short-story writer. Much of his work is rich in fantasy and metaphorical allegory, including the story collection Ficciones, which won him an international following. In the 1920s, Borges was afflicted by a worsening hereditary blindness and was totally blind by the mid-1950s. Forced to abandon the writing of long texts, he began dictating his works. What literary movement is Borges credited with establishing in South America? [More...]( Today's Holiday St. Bartholomew's Day [Discuss]( [St. Bartholomew]( is the patron saint of [beekeepers]( and honey-makers, and for this reason it was traditional in England for the honey crop to be gathered on August 24. Since the main ingredient in [mead]( ancient alcoholic drink that is still made in some parts of England today—is honey, the Blessing of the Mead is also observed on St. Bartholomew's Day. [More...]( Quote of the Day [Discuss]( How pleasant it is for a father to sit at his child's board. It is like an aged man reclining under the shadow of an oak which he has planted. [Sir Walter Scott]( (1771-1832) 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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