They are the good Samaritans that find us robbed of all our dreams by the roadside of life, bleeding and weeping and desolate; and such is their skill and wealth and goodness of heart, that they not only heal up our wounds, but restore to us the lost property of our dreams. Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Definition: (adjective) Having no limbs, feet, or footlike appendages.
Synonyms: apodous.
Usage: Eels are apodal and well adapted for wriggling in the mud, through the crevices of reefs, and along rocky shores.
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Source: The Free Dictionary
The DNA of extinct humans can be retrieved from sediments in caves – even in the absence of skeletal remains. Researchers found the genetic material in sediment samples collected from seven archaeological sites. The remains of ancient humans are often … Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
The Old Man of the Mountain was an iconic rock formation in the Franconia Notch mountain pass of New Hampshire. Protruding from the side of a cliff, about 1,200 feet (366 m) above a lake, it looked like a craggy, 40-ft (12-m) human face. Years of freezing weather and the feature’s already precarious position caused the beloved local symbol and tourist destination to collapse in 2003. American statesman Daniel Webster once said that the Old Man was God’s way of saying what? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
The Day of the Holy Cross, known elsewhere as the Exaltation of the Cross, is an important one throughout Latin America. Crosses that are normally found in the churches are repaired and repainted, or carried in procession through the streets. In Venezuela, the celebration is known as Velorio de Cruz. People set up special altars in their homes that include crosses, lighted candles, and images of the saints. Musicians and poets from all over the country come to perform in front of these altars. While playing their instruments, they improvise rhymed couplets and other poetic forms. Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Inge worked as a teacher and newspaper critic before winning recognition as a dramatist. His plays sympathetically portray the aspirations and frustrations of Midwestern small-town life. He first earned notice in 1950 with Come Back, Little Sheba, and he won the Pulitzer Prize in 1953 for Picnic. Several of his works were made into films. By the 1960s, his reputation as a dramatist declined, and he turned to writing novels. Plagued by alcoholism and illness, he died in what way? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Touch pieces are coins and medals—especially those with special designs or features—whose superstitious owners believe the items have supernatural powers. Thought to be imbued with the power to cure disease, bring good luck, influence behavior, or carry out a specific action if touched or held close, many touch pieces have been treasured by families for generations. The Lee Penny, taken from the Holy Land during a crusade, is still owned by the crusader’s family. What power is it said to have? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Definition: (noun) A minor error, such as a slip of the tongue, thought to reveal a repressed motive.
Synonyms: slip-up, miscue, slip.
Usage: She thought her verbal blunder was just a silly mistake, but her friend, a Freud enthusiast, tried to convince her that the parapraxis actually had great significance.
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Source: The Free Dictionary
Exploring the frozen beauty of Antarctica—a.k.a. the White Continent—often involves sights of, well, white. But at Taylor Glacier, a 34-mile-long polar glacier, you’ll find startling sights of red—a blood-like deposit of iron-rich, salty water flowing into West … Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Flores de Mayo (“May flowers”) festivals take place throughout the Philippines during the month of May. Children create offerings of flowers and bring them to their churches in the afternoon. Parades make their way through towns and villages, with girls wearing traditional costumes followed by their relatives and friends singing Hail Marys. The festival ends on May 31 with fiestas everywhere. In big cities like Manila, Flores de Mayo is one of the largest festivals of the year, featuring May Queens and fancy dress balls. Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary