empty – First meant “at leisure, unoccupied,” and it could also mean “unmarried.” More…
leisure – Based on Latin licere, “be allowed.” More…
scholastic – Based on Latin scholasticus, “devote one’s leisure to learning.” More…
vacation – Coming from Latin vacation/vacatio, from vacare, “to be free, empty; to be at leisure,” around 1395, this term entered Old English, meaning “rest and freedom from any activity.” More…
There is a specific, rational purpose in what one is doing or planning, even though it may seem crazy or absurd to another person. Watch the video
A bank run occurs when a large number of bank customers withdraw their funds because they believe the bank is, or might become, insolvent. By definition, bank runs tend to be self-fulfilling prophecies: as more people withdraw their deposits, the likelihood of default increases. A significant factor in the Great Depression of the 1930s in the US, bank runs can have lasting psychological effects. What popular American film’s protagonist contemplates suicide due to a looming banking failure? Discuss
fob – A small pocket close to the waistband of trousers. More…
galluses – Another name for suspenders for trousers. More…
plus fours – Got their name (c. 1920) from the fact that such trousers were made four inches longer than standard knickerbockers or shorts, which came to just above the knee. More…
trousers, trouse – The singular of trousers is trouse. More…
Independence Day is the only national celebration in Tuvalu, which consists of nine islands in the South Pacific with a total surface area of 10 square miles. The day is marked in the capital city of Funafuti with an official government flag-raising ceremony followed by a parade of policemen and schoolchildren; similar events are held in smaller communities throughout the country. Also held in addition to several days of feasting and dance is the Independence Day Sports Festival, in which citizens enjoy a number of sporting competitions. Discuss
The most important, basic, or fundamental essence or element(s) of an issue, problem, or matter at hand. Watch the video
When water hits a lotus leaf, it pools up or rolls right off. This so-called lotus effect is due to a complex system of microscopic bumps on the leaf’s waxy surface. These superhydrophobic structures protect the lotus from pathogens like fungi, which are easily swept off its leaves by water droplets. Although the lotus effect has been known in Asia for millennia—and was even noted in ancient Hindu texts—it was only scientifically understood in the early 1970s, thanks to the invention of what? Discuss
Definition: (adjective) Having a common boundary or edge; abutting; touching.
Synonyms: neighboring, adjacent, conterminous.
Usage: The windows of the back rooms overlooked an enormous court, which formed the center of the square made by the buildings which faced the four contiguous streets.
Discuss