Definition: (verb) To feign illness or other incapacity in order to avoid duty or work.
Synonyms: skulk.
Usage: To make sure that employees do not malinger, the boss insists that all workers submit a doctor's note when they return to work after calling in sick.
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Source: The Free Dictionary
Astronauts may not be able to stomach long voyages into space — literally speaking. A new NASA-funded study reveals that exposure to space radiation on long trips, like a voyage to Mars, could permanently harm astronauts’ intestines and lead to stomach … Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
The ancient city of Aleppo was besieged twice by Crusaders in the early 12th century, but little did residents know that worse was yet to come. Located on the boundary between the Arabian and African geologic plates in what is now northern Syria, the city was hit by a small earthquake on October 10, 1138, prompting some residents to flee. The next day, Aleppo was rocked by one of the deadliest earthquakes in recorded history. It destroyed the city and the nearby Crusader citadel. How many died? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is one of the world’s largest gatherings of hot-air balloonists. More than 1,000 balloons, some more than six-stories high, present dizzying colors and designs in the skies of New Mexico for a nine-day fiesta between the first two weekends of October that attracts nearly a million spectators. Besides the daytime ascensions, illuminated balloons light up the night skies. The fiesta also boasts fireworks and food of all sorts. Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
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The strict Catholic upbringing of Nobel Prize-winning French writer François Mauriac had a profound impact on his literary output. His austere, psychological novels, for which he is best known, often grapple with the problems of sin, grace, and salvation, as exemplified in Vipers’ Tangle, his masterpiece. He also wrote polemical works against totalitarianism and fascism in the 1930s, worked with the Resistance during World War II, and later wrote the foreword of what Holocaust memoir? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
One of the world’s oldest religious sites, the Mnajdra temple complex is found on the southern coast of the Mediterranean island of Malta, located just south of Italy. Consisting of three Neolithic temples surrounding a courtyard, Mnajdra was constructed at different times in the 4th millennium BCE, with the oldest temple dating to approximately 3600 BCE. Stone benches, animal bones, and rope holes found in the temples indicate that their prehistoric builders did what there? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Definition: (noun) Rule of personal conduct.
Synonyms: principle.
Usage: I forget who it was that recommended men for their soul's good to do each day two things they disliked: it was a wise man, and it is a precept that I have followed scrupulously; for every day I have got up and I have gone to bed.
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Source: The Free Dictionary
Strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, and… groundcherries? A little-known fruit about the size of a marble could become agriculture’s next big berry crop. To prepare the groundcherry (Physalis pruinosa) for mainstream farming, Howard … Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
In 661 CE, the first Islamic dynasty rose to prominence and sought to extend its power. The Muslims, seeking control of Aquitaine, were met by Charles Martel’s Frankish forces, who were able to halt them at the Battle of Tours. It was not a decisive victory, but the Arabs retreated after their leader was killed, and some historians deem it a watershed moment in preserving Christianity in Europe. The battle greatly enhanced Martel’s prestige at the time. What nickname was bestowed on him? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
The founding of the ruling Workers’ Party of North Korea is marked as a national holiday throughout the country. The main public celebrations of the Founding of the Workers’ Party take place in the capital city of Pyongyang. Commemorative dance and song performances, evening galas, and oratorical meetings all can be elements of the holiday observance. Similar speeches and performances also are featured in towns and cities throughout the country. Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary