Definition: (adjective) Characterized by clear, precise expression in few words; concise and terse.
Synonyms: compendious, summary, compact.
Usage: Some students enjoyed the teacher's succinct style, while others wished she would elaborate on certain topics.
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Source: The Free Dictionary
For nearly 150 years, a bizarre tree frog species in India was believed to be extinct. Now, scientists have found the elusive Frankixalus jerdonii in India’s West Bengal state, in the foothills of the Himalayas. Last seen in the wild in 1870, the frogs … Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
The Rum Rebellion of 1808 was the only successful armed takeover of government in the history of Australia. It began when New South Wales governor William Bligh was deposed by George Johnston, commander of the New South Wales Corps. The coup was a retaliation against attempts by successive governors to curb the power of the Corps and interfere with its lucrative rum trade—which gave the rebellion its name. The coup was the second time Bligh had been the victim of a rebellion. What was the first? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
This holiday is an important national festival in India, celebrating the day in 1950 when India’s ties with Britain were severed and the country became a fully independent republic. The holiday is marked with parades and much celebration in all the state capitals, but the festivities in Delhi are especially grand. There is a mammoth parade with military units, floats from each state, dancers and musicians, and fly-overs. Independence Day on August 15 is also a national holiday, but it is observed chiefly with speech-making and none of the grandeur of Republic Day. Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Coleman was an American civil aviator who became the first female pilot of African-American descent and the first person of African-American descent to hold an international pilot license. After attaining her license in France, Coleman continued to train extensively and earned a living as a stunt pilot in air shows, earning the nickname “Queen Bess.” She died in an aviation accident in 1926, but her legacy inspired countless aviators. What led to the accident that resulted in Coleman’s death? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Switzerland’s unofficial national flower, Edelweiss, is a perennial alpine plant belonging to the daisy family. The white, woolly, star-shaped bloom grows in rocky limestone areas and high altitudes and is often found in the mountains of Europe and Asia. It is considered a symbol of purity by the Swiss and has been used in traditional folk medicine to fight disease. “Edelweiss,” mistakenly believed by many to be the Austrian national anthem, is a song featured in what popular musical production? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Definition: (noun) A grid or pattern placed in the eyepiece of an optical instrument, used to establish scale or position.
Synonyms: graticule, reticule.
Usage: Looking through the microscope's eyepiece, he was able to establish the size of the molecule with the help of a reticle.
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Source: The Free Dictionary
There might be a ninth planet in the solar system after all — and it is not Pluto. Two astronomers reported on Wednesday that they had compelling signs of something bigger and farther away — something that would definitely satisfy the current definition … Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
The League of Nations was an organization for international cooperation, peace, and security established by the Allied Powers at the end of WWI. A league covenant providing for an assembly, a council, and a secretariat was formulated at the Paris Peace Conference and contained in the Treaty of Versailles. Headquartered at Geneva, the League was weakened by the failure of the US, which had not ratified the Treaty of Versailles, to join the confederation. What organization replaced it in 1946? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Saul of Tarsus, a highly educated, devout Jew, was converted to Christianity on the road to Damascus not long after the death of Jesus Christ. Later, he was known as Paul and became the most influential leader in the history of the church. At St. Paul’s Chapel in New York City, the path through the graveyard is closed for 48 hours, beginning on the eve of the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul. At one time, the weather on this day was linked to predictions about the coming year. Fair weather on St. Paul’s Day was said to presage a prosperous year; snow or rain an unproductive one. Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary