used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading How very nicely you can draw, Quite out of sight each little claw, And make so soft a velvet paw, Good little puss.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading How very nicely you can draw, Quite out of sight each little claw, And make so soft a velvet paw, Good little puss.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But do not tease it so, I pray, Because I've heard papa oft say, It was a very cruel way, And should not be.
for the reason that
From this reading But do not tease it so, I pray, Because I've heard papa oft say, It was a very cruel way, And should not be.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading You loosed it oft, and let it run, Then to pursue it you begun, And seemed to think it made good fun, You cruel puss.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading I saw a little mouse, you know, Once yonder in the yard below, And pounce you went upon it so, Poor little thing.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But do not tease it so, I pray, Because I've heard papa oft say, It was a very cruel way, And should not be.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading How very nicely you can draw, Quite out of sight each little claw, And make so soft a velvet paw, Good little puss.
clawnounUS /klɔː/
sharp curved horny process on the toe of a bird or some mammals or reptiles
From this reading How very nicely you can draw, Quite out of sight each little claw, And make so soft a velvet paw, Good little puss.
crueladjectiveUS /ˈkruːəl/
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
From this reading You loosed it oft, and let it run, Then to pursue it you begun, And seemed to think it made good fun, You cruel puss.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading But do not tease it so, I pray, Because I've heard papa oft say, It was a very cruel way, And should not be.
cause to move by pulling
From this reading How very nicely you can draw, Quite out of sight each little claw, And make so soft a velvet paw, Good little puss.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading How very nicely you can draw, Quite out of sight each little claw, And make so soft a velvet paw, Good little puss.
frightnounUS /fraɪt/
an emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger (usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight)
From this reading So, pussy, you must kill it quite, Not put it in so great a fright, And seem to glory in the sight; Do you hear, puss?
activities that are enjoyable or amusing
From this reading You loosed it oft, and let it run, Then to pursue it you begun, And seemed to think it made good fun, You cruel puss.
a state of high honor
From this reading So, pussy, you must kill it quite, Not put it in so great a fright, And seem to glory in the sight; Do you hear, puss?
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading How very nicely you can draw, Quite out of sight each little claw, And make so soft a velvet paw, Good little puss.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading So, pussy, you must kill it quite, Not put it in so great a fright, And seem to glory in the sight; Do you hear, puss?
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading So, pussy, you must kill it quite, Not put it in so great a fright, And seem to glory in the sight; Do you hear, puss?
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading But do not tease it so, I pray, Because I've heard papa oft say, It was a very cruel way, And should not be.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How very nicely you can draw, Quite out of sight each little claw, And make so soft a velvet paw, Good little puss.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I saw a little mouse, you know, Once yonder in the yard below, And pounce you went upon it so, Poor little thing.
I've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But do not tease it so, I pray, Because I've heard papa oft say, It was a very cruel way, And should not be.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I saw a little mouse, you know, Once yonder in the yard below, And pounce you went upon it so, Poor little thing.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I saw a little mouse, you know, Once yonder in the yard below, And pounce you went upon it so, Poor little thing.
cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly
From this reading So, pussy, you must kill it quite, Not put it in so great a fright, And seem to glory in the sight; Do you hear, puss?
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading I saw a little mouse, you know, Once yonder in the yard below, And pounce you went upon it so, Poor little thing.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading You loosed it oft, and let it run, Then to pursue it you begun, And seemed to think it made good fun, You cruel puss.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading How very nicely you can draw, Quite out of sight each little claw, And make so soft a velvet paw, Good little puss.
loosedverbUS /luːst/
past form of “loose” — grant freedom to; free from confinement
From this reading You loosed it oft, and let it run, Then to pursue it you begun, And seemed to think it made good fun, You cruel puss.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading You loosed it oft, and let it run, Then to pursue it you begun, And seemed to think it made good fun, You cruel puss.
engage in
From this reading How very nicely you can draw, Quite out of sight each little claw, And make so soft a velvet paw, Good little puss.
mousenounUS /maʊs/
any of numerous small rodents typically resembling diminutive rats having pointed snouts and small ears on elongated bodies with slender usually hairless tails
From this reading I saw a little mouse, you know, Once yonder in the yard below, And pounce you went upon it so, Poor little thing.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading So, pussy, you must kill it quite, Not put it in so great a fright, And seem to glory in the sight; Do you hear, puss?
nicelyadverbUS /ˈnaɪsli/
in a nice way
From this reading How very nicely you can draw, Quite out of sight each little claw, And make so soft a velvet paw, Good little puss.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But do not tease it so, I pray, Because I've heard papa oft say, It was a very cruel way, And should not be.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading How very nicely you can draw, Quite out of sight each little claw, And make so soft a velvet paw, Good little puss.
oftadverbUS /ɔːft/
many times at short intervals
From this reading You loosed it oft, and let it run, Then to pursue it you begun, And seemed to think it made good fun, You cruel puss.
on one occasion
From this reading I saw a little mouse, you know, Once yonder in the yard below, And pounce you went upon it so, Poor little thing.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading How very nicely you can draw, Quite out of sight each little claw, And make so soft a velvet paw, Good little puss.
an informal term for a father; probably derived from baby talk
From this reading But do not tease it so, I pray, Because I've heard papa oft say, It was a very cruel way, And should not be.
pawverbUS /pɔː/
scrape with the paws
From this reading How very nicely you can draw, Quite out of sight each little claw, And make so soft a velvet paw, Good little puss.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading I saw a little mouse, you know, Once yonder in the yard below, And pounce you went upon it so, Poor little thing.
pounceverbUS /paʊns/
move down on as if in an attack
From this reading I saw a little mouse, you know, Once yonder in the yard below, And pounce you went upon it so, Poor little thing.
address a deity, a prophet, a saint or an object of worship; say a prayer
From this reading But do not tease it so, I pray, Because I've heard papa oft say, It was a very cruel way, And should not be.
pursueverbUS /pərˈsuː/
carry out or participate in an activity; be involved in
From this reading You loosed it oft, and let it run, Then to pursue it you begun, And seemed to think it made good fun, You cruel puss.
pussnounUS /pʊs/
obscene terms for female genitals
From this reading How very nicely you can draw, Quite out of sight each little claw, And make so soft a velvet paw, Good little puss.
pussynounUS /ˈpʊsi/
obscene terms for female genitals
From this reading So, pussy, you must kill it quite, Not put it in so great a fright, And seem to glory in the sight; Do you hear, puss?
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading So, pussy, you must kill it quite, Not put it in so great a fright, And seem to glory in the sight; Do you hear, puss?
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading How very nicely you can draw, Quite out of sight each little claw, And make so soft a velvet paw, Good little puss.
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading You loosed it oft, and let it run, Then to pursue it you begun, And seemed to think it made good fun, You cruel puss.
cut with a saw
From this reading I saw a little mouse, you know, Once yonder in the yard below, And pounce you went upon it so, Poor little thing.
express in words
From this reading But do not tease it so, I pray, Because I've heard papa oft say, It was a very cruel way, And should not be.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading So, pussy, you must kill it quite, Not put it in so great a fright, And seem to glory in the sight; Do you hear, puss?
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading You loosed it oft, and let it run, Then to pursue it you begun, And seemed to think it made good fun, You cruel puss.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading But do not tease it so, I pray, Because I've heard papa oft say, It was a very cruel way, And should not be.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading How very nicely you can draw, Quite out of sight each little claw, And make so soft a velvet paw, Good little puss.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading How very nicely you can draw, Quite out of sight each little claw, And make so soft a velvet paw, Good little puss.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading How very nicely you can draw, Quite out of sight each little claw, And make so soft a velvet paw, Good little puss.
teaseverbUS /tiːz/
annoy persistently
From this reading But do not tease it so, I pray, Because I've heard papa oft say, It was a very cruel way, And should not be.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I saw a little mouse, you know, Once yonder in the yard below, And pounce you went upon it so, Poor little thing.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading You loosed it oft, and let it run, Then to pursue it you begun, And seemed to think it made good fun, You cruel puss.
a special situation
From this reading I saw a little mouse, you know, Once yonder in the yard below, And pounce you went upon it so, Poor little thing.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading You loosed it oft, and let it run, Then to pursue it you begun, And seemed to think it made good fun, You cruel puss.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading You loosed it oft, and let it run, Then to pursue it you begun, And seemed to think it made good fun, You cruel puss.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading I saw a little mouse, you know, Once yonder in the yard below, And pounce you went upon it so, Poor little thing.
velvetnounUS /ˈvelvət/
a silky densely piled fabric with a plain back
From this reading How very nicely you can draw, Quite out of sight each little claw, And make so soft a velvet paw, Good little puss.
precisely as stated
From this reading How very nicely you can draw, Quite out of sight each little claw, And make so soft a velvet paw, Good little puss.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But do not tease it so, I pray, Because I've heard papa oft say, It was a very cruel way, And should not be.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading But do not tease it so, I pray, Because I've heard papa oft say, It was a very cruel way, And should not be.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading I saw a little mouse, you know, Once yonder in the yard below, And pounce you went upon it so, Poor little thing.
a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading I saw a little mouse, you know, Once yonder in the yard below, And pounce you went upon it so, Poor little thing.
distant but within sight (“yon” is dialectal)
From this reading I saw a little mouse, you know, Once yonder in the yard below, And pounce you went upon it so, Poor little thing.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading How very nicely you can draw, Quite out of sight each little claw, And make so soft a velvet paw, Good little puss.
