Definition: (noun) A fellow member of a fraternity or profession; a colleague.
Synonyms: colleague, fellow.
Usage: She was an intimidating presence in the boardroom, and even her confreres were nervous around her.
Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Gambetta was a lawyer who gained recognition as an opponent of the Second Empire of Napoleon III and, in 1869, joined the parliamentary opposition. When Napoleon’s empire fell to the Germans, Gambetta organized a government of national defense to drive them out. With Paris under a grueling German siege, he made a spectacular escape to Tours in a balloon, where he continued fighting the Germans as minister of the interior and of war. Gambetta died shortly after being wounded in what accident? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
The Okunchi Festival in Nagasaki dates back to the 17th century, when many Chinese lived in the city and when both Dutch and Chinese traders regularly anchored their ships there. The festival pays tribute to these traders by presenting both a Dutch dance and a Chinese dragon dance, along with street fairs and other entertainment. The Okunchi Festival also features the traditional procession of the mikoshi—the ornate palanquin on which the local deity is believed to descend for a ride as it is carried through the streets. Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Bohr was a Danish physicist who was among the first to recognize the importance of an element’s atomic number. He was also the first to apply the quantum theory to atomic and molecular structure, and his concept of the atomic nucleus was a key step in understanding nuclear fission. He won a Nobel Prize for Physics in 1922 for his work on atomic theory. Though he contributed to atomic bomb research during World War II, he later devoted himself to arms control. What element is named in his honor? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Classically, escapology is the art of escaping from rope bindings. It has since evolved to include escapes from a variety of restraints, including straightjackets, cages, chains, and prisons. In the early 1900s, Harry Houdini, a master escapologist, began performing his “Chinese Water Torture Cell” act. The escape required a bound Houdini to hold his breath for more than three minutes while freeing himself from a locked, water-filled glass tank. Illusionists before Houdini had relied on what? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Definition: (noun) A person who diagnoses, especially a physician specializing in medical diagnostics.
Synonyms: pathologist.
Usage: She was an excellent diagnostician and was immediately able to identify the cause of the patient's symptoms.
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Source: The Free Dictionary
In the 1920s, filmmakers began experimenting with sound effects and music in films. With about 15 minutes of dialogue and songs, The Jazz Singer was the first feature-length film to have synchronized dialogue. Based on the earlier stage play, the film was a landmark in the history of motion pictures, and its release heralded the commercial ascendance of “talkies” and the decline of the silent film era. The first all-talking picture was released a year later. What was it? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Descendants of the earliest German settlers have observed October 6 as German Pioneer Day or German Settlement Day since 1908, but it wasn’t until 1987 that October 6 was formally designated German-American Day by President Ronald Reagan. It is often observed by attending events that promote an understanding of the contributions of German immigrants—for example, lectures on German history, art, music, and literature; exhibits featuring German artifacts; performances of German music; and church services that acknowledge German-American members of the congregation. Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
A freed slave, Christophe was a Haitian revolutionary leader who was army chief under Jean-Jacques Dessalines. When Dessalines declared himself emperor, Christophe took part in a successful plot against his life and was elected president of the republic. In 1811, Christophe declared himself king of North Haiti—as Henri I—and created an autocracy patterned after the absolute monarchies of Europe. Engaging in a tyrannical reign, Christophe surrounded himself with lavish wealth. How did he die? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
A necropolis, Greek for “city of the dead,” is a large cemetery or burial ground. The term typically is used in reference to burial grounds that lie in close proximity to centers of ancient civilization. In fantasy literature, the word necropolis takes on a different connotation, often describing cities populated by zombies or the undead. The Hypogeum of Hal-Saflieni, which dates back to 2500 BCE, is probably the world’s oldest necropolis. Why did ancient Romans adopt the necropolis? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary