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April 22, 2026
Apr 22, 2026
Word
indurate
adjective
Definition
physically or morally hardened
Example
The sculpture was so realistic that it seemed that at any moment the indurate marble form would shift position to stare back at the viewer.
Origin
"Indurate" is a hard word -- in more than one way. Not only is it fairly uncommon in modern usage, but it also can be traced back to Latin "durare," meaning "to harden." ("Durare" can mean "to endure" as well, and appropriately "indurate" is a word that has lasted many years -- it has been a part of the English language since the 14th century.) "Durare" is also the root of other durable English words, including "during," "endure," "duration," "durance" (an archaic word meaning "endurance"), and even "durable" itself. In addition, "indurate" can be a verb meaning "to make or grow hard," "to make unfeeling, stubborn, or obdurate," and "to establish firmly."
Webster's Dictionary
Idiom
cock a snook
Thumb one's nose, as in As soon as the teacher turned her back, the boys cocked a snook at her. This expression was first recorded in 1791 and the precise source of snook, here used in the sense of "a derisive gesture," has been lost. It is more widely used in Britain but is not unknown in America.
The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms
Fun facts
  1. There is an underground mushroom in Oregon that measures 3.5 miles across.
  2. It is against the law to put pretzels in bags in Philadelphia.
Snapple's under-the-cap 'Real Facts'
Artist
Jean-Étienne Liotard
Dec 22, 1702 - Jun 12, 1789

Jean-Étienne Liotard was a Swiss painter, art connoisseur and dealer. He is best known for his portraits in pastel, and for the works from his trip to Turkey. A Huguenot of French origin and citizen of the Republic of Geneva, he was born and died in Geneva, but spent most of his career in stays in the capitals of Europe, where his portraits were much in demand. He worked in Rome, Istanbul, Paris, Vienna, London and other cities.

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Wikipedia, Google Arts & Culture
Historical figure
Zoe Lofgren
Born Dec 21, 1947

Susan Ellen "Zoe" Lofgren is an American politician serving as a U.S. Representative from California. A member of the Democratic Party, Lofgren is in her 13th term as a congresswoman, having been first elected in 1994.

She was the 16th district's first female U.S. Representative, prior to a portion of the district being redistricted into the 19th congressional district. The district covers much of Santa Clara County, including the cities of Gilroy, Morgan Hill, and most of San Jose. Lofgren has long served on the House Judiciary Committee and in the 116th Congress she is Chair of the House Administration Committee.

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Wikipedia, Google Arts & Culture
Historic event
Second Hundred Years' War
1689 - 1815

The Second Hundred Years' War is a periodization or historical era term used by some historians to describe the series of military conflicts between Great Britain and France that occurred from about 1689 to 1815.

The Second Hundred Years' War is named after the Hundred Years War, when the rivalry between England and France began in the 14th century. The term appears to have been coined by J. R. Seeley in his influential work The Expansion of England: Two Courses of Lectures.

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Wikipedia, Google Arts & Culture
Quote
Looking at life from a different perspective makes you realise that it’s not the deer that is crossing the road, rather it’s the road that is crossing the forest.
Muhammad Ali