Word of the Day, September 8, 2023

September 8, 2023 [The Free Dictionary]( Word of the Day [abridgment]( [Discuss]( Definition: (noun) A shortened version of a written work. Synonyms: [condensation]( [capsule]( Usage: In a word, I gave him an abridgment of this whole history; I gave him a picture of my conduct for fifty years in miniature. 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 [have a hankering for (something)]( — To have a very strong, persistent desire or craving for something. ["More...]( [Idiom video]( Article of the Day Piazza San Marco [Discuss]( St. Mark's Square, or Piazza San Marco, is Venice's principal plaza. Originating in the 9th c as a small area in front of St. Mark's Basilica, the Piazza was enlarged to its present shape and size in 1177. As Venice's central gathering place, it is extremely popular with tourists, pigeons, and photographers. The Piazza is surrounded by a number of historic structures, including the Doge's Palace, Procuraties, and Biblioteca Marciana. What was the purpose of the paved pattern on the Piazza floor? [More...]( Daily Grammar Lesson Personal Pronouns - Reflexive Pronouns [Discuss]( Reflexive pronouns are used when someone or something is both the subject and the object of the same verb—i.e., when both performing and receiving the action. What are the nine reflexive pronouns? [More...]( This Day in History Honda Point Disaster (1923) [Discuss]( The Honda Point Disaster was the largest peacetime loss of US Navy ships. On the evening of September 8, 1923, 14 destroyers were engaging in simulated combat maneuvers a few miles from the northern side of the Santa Barbara Channel off the California coast. Upon reaching Honda Point, seven destroyers ran aground and were wrecked; two others suffered minor damage. In all, twenty-three sailors lost their lives. What is the "Devil's Jaw," and how did it factor into the incident? [More...]( Today's Birthday Peter Sellers (1925) [Discuss]( Sellers was a British actor who earned international stardom playing a wide range of characters at a time when rigid typecasting was the norm. The son of vaudeville performers, he began appearing with his parents as a boy. He started making films in the 1950s and later gained enormous popularity as the bumbling Inspector Clouseau in the Pink Panther series. In Dr. Strangelove, he plays three characters, including the titular role. What fourth character was he initially supposed to play? [More...]( Today's Holiday Andorra National Day [Discuss]( The [Principality of Andorra]( located in the [Pyrénées Mountains]( between France and Spain, was founded by the Emperor Charlemagne. The people of Andorra celebrate their National Day by honoring [Jungfrau von Meritxell]( their patron saint. Pilgrims climb to her hilltop sanctuary near the villages of Encamp and Canillo, where her statue was found by a shepherd under an almond tree blooming out of season. The pilgrims stop to refresh themselves with drinks that have been cooled in the nearby springs, and after the sermon they celebrate by dancing and eating lamb grilled on slabs of slate. [More...]( Quote of the Day [Discuss]( People only see what they are prepared to see. [Ralph Waldo Emerson]( (1803-1882) 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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