Definition: (noun) A clavier with strings that are plucked by plectra mounted on pivots.
Synonyms: harpsichord.
Usage: Although the piano is a more versatile instrument with a greater range, some musicians still enjoy playing the cembalo for its distinct sound.
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Source: The Free Dictionary
In 1989, more than a million people formed a human chain more than 373 miles (600 km) long across the three Baltic states—Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Known as the “Baltic Way,” the demonstration marked the 50th anniversary of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, an agreement between the Soviet Union and Germany that secretly divided Poland and gave the Soviet Union control of Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, and Finland. When did the Soviet Union finally admit the existence of the secret protocol? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Vulcan was the ancient Roman god of volcanic or destructive fire. The Vulcanalia, or festival in honor of Vulcan, was held on August 23, right at the time of year when forest fires might be expected and when the stored grain was in danger of burning. For this reason, Vulcan’s cult was very prominent at Ostia, where Rome’s grain was stored. At the Vulcanalia, which was observed in Egypt, in Athens, and in Rome, the priest or flamen Volcanis performed a sacrifice, and the heads of families burned small fish they had caught in the Tiber River. Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Often called “the maker of modern Greece,” Venizelos was a Greek revolutionary who became a prominent statesman. After leading an assembly to declare the union of Crete with Greece in 1905, he went to Athens and won an extraordinary popular following. During his first term as Greek premier, he completed the revision of the constitution and led Greece through the Balkan Wars, in which its territory and population were doubled. Facing rebellion in 1935, he fled to France. When did he die? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
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? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Definition: (noun) One who sells fruit, vegetables, fish, or other goods from a cart, barrow, or stand in the streets.
Synonyms: barrow-man.
Usage: Too far, in fancy, above the rest of mankind to trouble about their petty distinctions, he is equally at home with duke or costermonger.
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Source: The Free Dictionary
A botnet is a collection of software robots, or bots, that run automatically on groups of “zombie” computers controlled remotely by hackers. One of the most notorious botnets in hacking history, the so-called “Storm” botnet was named for the storm-related subject lines initially employed by its infectious emails. Of the billions of virus messages sent out by this botnet, 57 million were sent in one day alone. By September 2007, the botnet is believed to have been running on how many computers? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Mary, the mother of Jesus, was identified with the title of “Queen” at least as early as the 13th century. On October 11, 1954, during the Marian year that marked the centenary of the proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, Pope Pius XII established the feast of the Queenship of Mary on May 31. After the Second Vatican Council, the feast (classified as an obligatory memorial) was changed to August 22 so that it would follow the Feast of the Assumption on August 15. Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Parker was an American short-story and verse writer who gained an almost legendary reputation for her sardonic wit while serving as drama critic for Vanity Fair and book critic for The New Yorker. She went on to write stage and screen plays and was twice nominated for an Academy Award. In the 1950s, she was blacklisted by Hollywood for her suspected ties to Communism. Parker was a founding member of the Algonquin Round Table, dubbed “The Vicious Circle” by members. What was it? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Throughout her childhood, Annie’s family moved frequently to accommodate her father’s military career. Her artistic involvement flourished in high school, but it was a visit to her family in the Philippines that sparked her passion for photography. After spending time on a kibbutz in Israel, Annie returned to the US and began photographing for Rolling Stone magazine. Her intimate portraits of celebrities helped define the magazine’s look. At what age did she give birth to her first child? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary