Definition: (noun) The art or profession of teaching.
Synonyms: instruction.
Usage: The true aim of pedagogy is ensuring that students learn how to learn.
Discuss
Month: February 2022
silence
obmutescence, obmutescent – Obmutescence is the act of becoming mute or silent—usually a stubborn, willful act; if you are inclined to silence, you are obmutescent. More…
oyez – Meaning a call for silence and attention, it descends from Anglo-Norman oyez/oiez, “to hear” or “hear ye.” More…
silential – Describing something performed in silence. More…
omerta – The code of silence in the Mafia, from the Italian word for “humility.” More…
The "Devil's Footprints" Appear in Devon, England (1855)
In February 1855, the Devil, perhaps consumed with wanderlust, apparently took a 40- to 100-mile stroll across Devon, England. His outing might have passed unnoticed, except that it was snowing heavily at the time. When residents awoke, they were dismayed to find unusual cloven hoofprints all over the place—not just on the ground but also on obstacles like walls and even roofs. Of course, it is possible that something other than the Prince of Darkness made these tracks. What are some theories? Discuss
Il Guercino (1591)
Giovanni Francesco Barbieri, better known as Il Guercino (“The Squinter”), was an Italian painter whose work had a profound impact on the development of 17th-century Baroque decoration. One of the outstanding draftsmen of his age, he was known for his frescoes, altarpieces, oils, and drawings. When he was 30, he was called to Rome by Pope Gregory XV and spent a productive two years there. Later, he moved to Bologna and was its leading painter until his death. How did he get his nickname? Discuss
like piffy on a rock bun
Conspicuous but ignored or left out, especially from a group or activity. (A “rock bun” or “rock cake” is a type of hard cake with currants; what “piffy” refers to is unknown.) Primarily heard in UK. Watch the video
Pyrophoricity
“Pyrophoric” comes from the Greek word for “fire-bearing”—purophoros—and describes substances, such as uranium or iron sulfide, that are highly reactive and ignite spontaneously when exposed to air or even, strange as it sounds, to water. Though it may seem like they should be handled only in controlled environments, pyrophoric alloys are used to produce the spark in a very common household item: the automatic lighter. What special equipment is needed to put out a pyrophoric fire? Discuss
carouse
movie
art movie – A movie intended to be an artistic work rather than a commercial movie of mass appeal. More…
longueurs – Boring periods of time or parts of a book, play, music, or movie are longueurs. More…
horse opera – A slang term for a western (movie). More…
vamp – Theda Bara’s performance in the movie The Vampire brought us this word, meaning “seductive woman.” More…
The Dreadnought Hoax (1910)
Nearly four years after the HMS Dreadnought entered service, the revolutionary battleship was “honored” with a visit from Abyssinian royalty. Though the ship’s commanders only received last-minute notice of the Abyssinian delegation’s impending arrival, they managed to arrange for their guests to be greeted with pomp and circumstance and then given a tour of the vessel. The royal visitors were later revealed to be mere pranksters in blackface. What now-famous author took part in the hoax? Discuss
Sinclair Lewis (1885)
Probably the greatest satirist of his era, Lewis wrote novels that present a devastating picture of middle-class American life in the 1920s. His first literary successes were Main Street (1920), a merciless portrayal of Midwestern provincialism, and Babbitt (1922), an equally satiric portrait of a conformist businessman. Lewis refused a Pulitzer Prize in 1926, citing his objection to the idealized view of America espoused by the Pulitzer panel. What award did he accept in 1930? Discuss