Definition: (noun) A person of unquestioning obedience.
Synonyms: stooge, yes-man.
Usage: I liked the play, but I felt that the character of Joe was too much of a flunky, always trying to please Roger and never standing up for himself.
Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Fought between Scottish highland clans supporting James II and VII and the government troops of William of Orange, the Battle of Killiecrankie occurred in Scotland during the first Jacobite uprising in 1689. Outnumbered, barefoot, and armed mostly with claymores—large, double-edged broadswords—the highlanders, led by John Graham of Claverhouse, used their position on the steep Pass of Killiecrankie to force a retreat. Despite the victory, Claverhouse was killed. What became of the revolt? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Victory Day marks the end of the Korean War, the three-year conflict between North Korea and South Korea. On July 27, 1953, the opponents signed an armistice that formally ended the war. Victory Day is a public holiday observed throughout North Korea. Officials and citizens mark the occasion by laying wreaths and flowers at military cemeteries and monuments nationwide. In the capital city, Pyongyang, public celebrations can include displays by military personnel, dance performances, and youth oratorical events. Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Although of aristocratic background, Corday sympathized with the moderate Girondists during the French Revolution. Horrified at the excesses of the Reign of Terror, she gained an audience with one of its leaders, Jean-Paul Marat, by promising to betray the Girondists and stabbed him through the heart while he was in his bath. Arrested on the spot, she was convicted by the Revolutionary Tribunal and guillotined four days later. Why was Marat in the bath at the time of their meeting? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Cook was an English travel agent who, in 1841, founded the travel agency that bears his name. After his idea of the guided tour met with success, he established his Circular Tour of Europe and, later, tours of the US. The company was nationalized in 1948, but it went into decline when it failed to offer the “package holiday” that had recently gained popularity. The agency has been owned by private companies since 1972. Cook’s agency began arranging travel to what exotic destination in the 1880s? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Definition: (noun) A juvenile between the onset of puberty and maturity.
Synonyms: adolescent, teenager.
Usage: He appeared on a jutting headland by the shore of the fruitless sea, seeming like a stripling in the first flush of manhood.
Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Loosely based on Wolfram von Eschenbach’s Parzival—the medieval epic poem of the Arthurian knight Parzival and his quest for the Holy Grail—Parsifal is a three-act opera by German composer Richard Wagner. The opera was first conceived in 1857 but not completed until 25 years later. It premiered in 1882 at the second Bayreuth Festival, where it was performed exclusively until 1903. What tradition has arisen among the audience at performances of Parsifal at Bayreuth? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
In 1967, the British Columbian city of Nanaimo decided to mark its centennial anniversary with a race in its Nanaimo Harbor. Thus was born the International World Championship Bathtub Race, the main event of the four-day Nanaimo Marine Festival. The 36-mile race features homemade entries that have the shape and design of a tub and run on a boat motor that does not exceed eight horsepower. Other festival events include a Sail Past on Wheels Fun Parade, a “Kiddies Karnival,” and a fireworks show. Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Shaw was an Irish playwright and critic who revolutionized the Victorian stage, authoring more than 60 plays, including Man and Superman and Pygmalion, his comedic masterpiece. Nearly all of his works mix a vein of comedy with stern social commentary—on subjects including education, marriage, religion, government, and class privilege. Shaw was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1925 and is the only person to have received both it and what other award? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Dalmatia, a historic region of Croatia, is located on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea roughly extending from Rijeka (Fiume) to the Gulf of Kotor. It is generally mountainous, with a coastal lowland famed for its scenic beauty and resorts. The population is largely composed of Roman Catholic Croats. However, Eastern Orthodox Serbs and some Italians also live in the area, mainly at Zadar, the historic capital. Dalmatia lends its name to what article of clothing? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary