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Word of the Day

repute discuss

Definition:(verb) To consider (a person or thing) to be as specified.
Synonyms:look upon, regard as, take to be, esteem, think of
Usage:He is reputed to be intelligent.

Article of the Day

The Batavia

Though the shipwreck of the Batavia, a Dutch East India Company ship that ran aground on its maiden voyage in 1628, was fairly uneventful, the mutiny and massacre that took place among its survivors earned the Batavia a lasting place in history. While stranded on islands near the Western Australian coast, several mutineers persuaded their followers to kill 125 people as part of a plot to hijack the rescue ship they hoped would find them. What happened when the rescue party arrived? More... Discuss

This Day in History

Edwin Drake Strikes Oil in Titusville, Pennsylvania (1859)

In the late 1850s, Drake hired a salt well driller to start digging on a piece of land near Titusville, Pennsylvania. Though oil was known to exist nearby, there was no practical way to extract it, and its primary use was in medicine. In August 1859, Drake struck oil at a depth of 69 feet (21 m), an event that marked the birth of the oil industry. Once a quiet village, Titusville became a bustling town as prospectors flocked to the area. What disaster struck the town more than once? More... Discuss

Today's Birthday

Charles Stewart Rolls (1877)

A member of the British aristocracy, Rolls developed an interest in engines and cars while studying at Cambridge. He became the first person there to have a car—a Peugeot—and, in 1902, he went into the automobile sales business. Striking a deal with manufacturer Frederick Royce in 1906, he co-founded the Rolls-Royce automobile company, which quickly earned a reputation for its engineering. In 1910, at the age of 32, Rolls became the first Briton to die in what unusual way? More... Discuss

In the News

Quote of the Day
But curb thou the high spirit in thy breast, for gentle ways are best, and keep aloof from sharp contentions.
Homer
(900 BC-800 BC) Discuss

Spelling Bee
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adj. Of, relating to, or capable of speed equal to or exceeding five times the speed of sound
 
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