The keffiyeh is a traditional Arab headdress, made of a square of cloth that is folded and wrapped in various styles around the head. It is commonly worn in areas with arid climates as protection from direct sun exposure and blown dust and sand. The plain white keffiyeh is popular in the Gulf states, while the red-and-white keffiyeh is most strongly associated with what country? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Alchemy may be compared to the man who told his sons he had left them gold buried somewhere in his vineyard; where they by digging found no gold, but by turning up the mould about the roots of their vines, procured a plentiful vintage. So the search and endeavors to make gold have brought many useful inventions and instructive experiments to light. Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Definition: (verb) To censure strongly.
Synonyms: abrade, condemn, denounce.
Usage: The newspaper printed an editorial that excoriated the administration for its inaction.
Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Masada is an ancient mountaintop fortress in Israel’s Judaean Desert. In 66 CE, with the outbreak of the Jewish war against Rome, the Zealots, an extremist Jewish sect, seized the fortress in a surprise attack and massacred its Roman garrison. After the fall of Jerusalem, Masada, the last remnant of Jewish rule, refused to surrender. Masada remained under Zealot control until 73 CE, when, after months of siege, the Romans finally breached the walls. What did they discover when they entered? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
In Washington, DC, April 16th is celebrated as Emancipation Day, commemorating the day in 1862 when President Abraham Lincoln signed into law the District of Columbia Emancipation Act, nine months prior to the Emancipation Proclamation. More than 3,000 slaves were freed under this agreement. Since 2005, the date has been a legal holiday in the District. Events are scheduled throughout the preceding week, and the observance culminates on the 16th in a day of festivities and entertainment, beginning with a parade down Pennsylvania Avenue in the morning. Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Recognized as the most important female painter of the 18th century, Vigée-Lebrun began painting portraits professionally in her early teens and went on to have a long and successful career. In 1779, she was summoned to Versailles to paint Marie Antoinette, whom she would paint at least 30 more times. At the outbreak of the French Revolution, she fled France and traveled abroad, finding acclaim and prominent sitters wherever she went. Which notable figures did she paint during her travels? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Foot binding originated during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) in the wealthiest parts of China. By the end of the practice’s thousand-year history, it had spread to all classes and was viewed as a status symbol. Young girls’ feet were wrapped in tight bandages that restricted growth, causing breakage and deformity. Most often, the men that foot binding was intended to impress would never see the woman’s bare feet, as they were concealed within tiny “lotus shoes.” When and why did the practice end? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Definition: (verb) To lie or creep in a prostrate position, as in subservience or humility.
Synonyms: cower, cringe, fawn.
Usage: The prisoners groveled before the emperor, hoping that he would commute their sentences.
Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Written by literary scholar Samuel Johnson, A Dictionary of the English Language was the first comprehensive English lexicographical work ever undertaken and is among the most influential dictionaries in the history of the English language. Remarkably, Johnson completed the work nearly single-handedly over a period of nine years. Unlike most modern lexicographers, he introduced humor into a number of his more than 42,000 definitions. What are some examples? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
The birthday of the late North Korean leader Kim Il-Sung on April 15, 1912, is marked as a public holiday throughout North Korea (the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea). The holiday is known as the Day of the Sun. All over the country, people lay floral wreaths and baskets before the hundreds of statues that commemorate Kim. The main observances take place in the capital city Pyongyang, where officials of numerous organizations and citizens lay flowers at one of the nation’s grandest monuments to Kim, located on Mansu Hill. Kim Il-Sung ruled North Korea from 1945 until his death in 1994. Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary