Definition: (noun) A pleasant and affable disposition.
Synonyms: affability, affableness, amiableness, geniality, amiability.
Usage: The good humor and bonhomie called up by this last evening amongst his old friends had disappeared.
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Source: The Free Dictionary
Carbon is a building block of life on our planet. It is stored in reservoirs on Earth—in rocks, plants and soil—in the oceans, and in the atmosphere. And it cycles constantly between these reservoirs. Understanding the carbon cycle is crucially important for many … Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
An influential American poet and literary critic, Pound spent most of his life in Europe. At the end of WWII, he was arrested for treason by the US for making public broadcasts in Italy supporting anti-Semitism and Fascism. Judged insane, he was committed to a hospital in Washington, DC, until Ernest Hemingway and other friends secured his release 12 years later. In the early weeks of his incarceration, he began showing signs of a mental breakdown, possibly as a result of being locked in what? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Stokowski was a legendary British-American conductor whose strong advocacy of new music helped to broaden American musical taste. He conducted and toured with the Philadelphia Orchestra for more than two decades, transforming it into a world-class ensemble and creating the lush “Philadelphia sound.” He made three films, including Walt Disney’s Fantasia, in which he also appeared. What made the “Philadelphia sound” so unique? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Leprechauns are mythological male fairies of Irish folklore. They are often described as small, mischievous cobblers who hide crocks of gold in secret locations. According to legend, leprechauns can be captured and compelled to reveal the location of their treasure, but their captors must never look away because doing so allows the elusive creatures to escape. Why do some Irish people consider the modern, popularized image of leprechauns offensive? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Definition: (noun) A nest of ants.
Synonyms: anthill.
Usage: Hours after accidentally stepping on a formicary, she was still picking stray ants off of her jeans.
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Source: The Free Dictionary
You can’t squeeze blood from a stone, but wringing water from the desert sky is now possible, thanks to a new spongelike device that uses sunlight to suck water vapor from air, even in low humidity. The device can produce nearly 3 liters of water per … Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Though France proclaimed Syria an independent republic in 1941, its troops were not withdrawn until 1946, after over 25 years of occupation. The occupation began in 1920, when the League of Nations gave the French a mandate over the Levant States—roughly present-day Syria and Lebanon. Within years, the Syrian resistance to French colonial rule became a full-scale revolt. A 1936 treaty promised Syrian independence, but it did not come to fruition. What finally brought about the occupation’s end? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
The oldest footrace in the United States was first held on Patriots’ Day, April 19, 1897. Organized by members of the Boston Athletic Association, the race involved only 15 runners. Nowadays the Boston Marathon draws anywhere from 7,000 to more than 9,000 official starters. The 26.2-mile course begins exactly at noon in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, includes the infamous “Heartbreak Hill” (a section of Commonwealth Avenue in Newton Centre, Massachusetts, that marks the race’s 21st mile), and ends near Copley Square in the Back Bay Area. Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Schnabel was an Austrian-American pianist best known for his interpretations of Beethoven’s piano works. Based in Berlin from 1900 to 1933, he composed, taught, and gave legendary performances of the complete sonatas of Beethoven and Schubert for centenary celebrations. In the 1930s, he became the first to record the complete Beethoven cycle. During the Nazi period, he moved to London, then to the US. Though his own compositions are less known, they are revered by serious pianists. Why? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary