folderol – Trivial or nonsensical fuss, nonsense, or a useless trifle. More…
nugacious, nugatory – Nugacious and nugatory are synonyms for trivial. More…
When Martin Luther (1483-1546), a German monk and religious reformer, nailed his 95 “theses” (or propositions) to the church door in Wittenberg on October 31, 1517, so many people agreed with his ideas that they spread throughout western Europe and touched off a religious revolt known as the Reformation. As a result, many Christians broke their centuries-old connection with the Roman Catholic Church and established independent churches of their own, prime among them being the Lutheran Church. October 31 is observed by most Protestant denominations as Reformation Day. Discuss
All of a sudden; out of nowhere; without warning. Watch the video
In human courtship, a grimace is not generally something one wants to see from a potential love interest. Not so with animals. Cats, horses, llamas, and giraffes are just some of the animals that exhibit the flehmen response, a grimace-like curling of the upper lip and extension of the neck that facilitates the detection of scents—and pheromones—through the vomeronasal organ located in the roof of the mouth. Where does the name “flehmen” come from? Discuss
collup – A small piece or slice. More…
cover slip – The small piece of thin glass that goes over the specimen on a microscope slide. More…
brioche – In French, it literally means “split up into small pieces.” More…
stamp – Originally meant “crush into small pieces; pound”; its sense of “imprint with design by pressure” came into play in the 16th century—and is the semantic basis of postage stamp. More…
The shores of the Bosphorus Strait were once lined with fortifications built by Byzantine emperors and Ottoman sultans protecting Constantinople. Today, one of the world’s longest suspension bridges spans the Bosphorus, linking European Turkey with Asian Turkey. The bridge was completed on October 30, 1973—one day after the Turkish republic’s 50th anniversary. A second bridge was finished in 1988. Which American comedian led children across the first bridge during its opening ceremony? Discuss
The United Nations‘ Disarmament Week, observed between October 24 and October 30, was established in 1978. It begins on October 24, the anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, now observed as United Nations Day. Observance revolves around raising public awareness of the dangers of the arms race and the need for international disarmament. Discuss
To feel completely refreshed and in good health and spirits, especially after an exhausting or debilitating experience. Watch the video
“Form follows function” is a principle of 20th-century architecture. Coined by American architect Louis Sullivan, it asserts that the form of a building should be primarily based upon its intended function. He developed the idea while working on a new aesthetic for skyscrapers amid the late 19th-century revival of traditional classicism. Sullivan is widely misquoted—he actually said “form ever follows function”—but perhaps the greater error is that the saying is often wrongly attributed to whom? Discuss