used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The kitchen cat was a very gentle beastie, except in the matter of killing birds and mice.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The kitchen cat was a very gentle beastie, except in the matter of killing birds and mice.
beastie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The kitchen cat was a very gentle beastie, except in the matter of killing birds and mice.
plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading The kitchen cat was a very gentle beastie, except in the matter of killing birds and mice.
feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and no ability to roar: domestic cats; wildcats
From this reading The kitchen cat was a very gentle beastie, except in the matter of killing birds and mice.
catsnounUS /kæts/
plural of “cat” — feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and no ability to roar: domestic cats; wildcats
From this reading She had the usual fascination of her species where these small victims were concerned; and she enjoyed life in the way cats do, eating when hungry, and sleeping the rest of her days.
a state of being relaxed and feeling no pain
From this reading She slept now with the greatest comfort under the silken eider-down quilt.
feeling or showing worry or solicitude
From this reading She had the usual fascination of her species where these small victims were concerned; and she enjoyed life in the way cats do, eating when hungry, and sleeping the rest of her days.
CREAMnounUS /kriːm/
the best people or things in a group
From this reading CREAM.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading She had the usual fascination of her species where these small victims were concerned; and she enjoyed life in the way cats do, eating when hungry, and sleeping the rest of her days.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading She had the usual fascination of her species where these small victims were concerned; and she enjoyed life in the way cats do, eating when hungry, and sleeping the rest of her days.
the act of consuming food
From this reading She had the usual fascination of her species where these small victims were concerned; and she enjoyed life in the way cats do, eating when hungry, and sleeping the rest of her days.
eider-down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She slept now with the greatest comfort under the silken eider-down quilt.
past form of “enjoy” — derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in
From this reading She had the usual fascination of her species where these small victims were concerned; and she enjoyed life in the way cats do, eating when hungry, and sleeping the rest of her days.
divisible by two
From this reading She rejoiced in the welcome warmth and purred softly to herself, not even troubling to regard the saucer of cream until she had had her snooze.
apart from; not including
From this reading The kitchen cat was a very gentle beastie, except in the matter of killing birds and mice.
fascinationnounUS /ˌfæsəˈneɪʃən/
the state of being intensely interested (as by awe or terror)
From this reading She had the usual fascination of her species where these small victims were concerned; and she enjoyed life in the way cats do, eating when hungry, and sleeping the rest of her days.
soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe
From this reading The kitchen cat was a very gentle beastie, except in the matter of killing birds and mice.
highest in quality
From this reading She slept now with the greatest comfort under the silken eider-down quilt.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had the usual fascination of her species where these small victims were concerned; and she enjoyed life in the way cats do, eating when hungry, and sleeping the rest of her days.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She had the usual fascination of her species where these small victims were concerned; and she enjoyed life in the way cats do, eating when hungry, and sleeping the rest of her days.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading She rejoiced in the welcome warmth and purred softly to herself, not even troubling to regard the saucer of cream until she had had her snooze.
feeling hunger; feeling a need or desire to eat food
From this reading She had the usual fascination of her species where these small victims were concerned; and she enjoyed life in the way cats do, eating when hungry, and sleeping the rest of her days.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The kitchen cat was a very gentle beastie, except in the matter of killing birds and mice.
killingnounUS /ˈkɪlɪŋ/
an event that causes someone to die
From this reading The kitchen cat was a very gentle beastie, except in the matter of killing birds and mice.
a room equipped for preparing meals
From this reading The kitchen cat was a very gentle beastie, except in the matter of killing birds and mice.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading She had the usual fascination of her species where these small victims were concerned; and she enjoyed life in the way cats do, eating when hungry, and sleeping the rest of her days.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading The kitchen cat was a very gentle beastie, except in the matter of killing birds and mice.
micenounUS /maɪs/
plural of “mouse” — 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 The kitchen cat was a very gentle beastie, except in the matter of killing birds and mice.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She rejoiced in the welcome warmth and purred softly to herself, not even troubling to regard the saucer of cream until she had had her snooze.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading She slept now with the greatest comfort under the silken eider-down quilt.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The kitchen cat was a very gentle beastie, except in the matter of killing birds and mice.
purred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She rejoiced in the welcome warmth and purred softly to herself, not even troubling to regard the saucer of cream until she had had her snooze.
quiltnounUS /kwɪlt/
bedding made of two layers of cloth filled with stuffing and stitched together
From this reading She slept now with the greatest comfort under the silken eider-down quilt.
(usually preceded by “in”) a detail or point
From this reading She rejoiced in the welcome warmth and purred softly to herself, not even troubling to regard the saucer of cream until she had had her snooze.
rejoicedverbUS /rɪˈdʒɔɪst/
past form of “rejoice” — feel happiness or joy
From this reading She rejoiced in the welcome warmth and purred softly to herself, not even troubling to regard the saucer of cream until she had had her snooze.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading She had the usual fascination of her species where these small victims were concerned; and she enjoyed life in the way cats do, eating when hungry, and sleeping the rest of her days.
saucernounUS /ˈsɔːsər/
something with a round shape resembling a flat circular plate
From this reading She rejoiced in the welcome warmth and purred softly to herself, not even troubling to regard the saucer of cream until she had had her snooze.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had the usual fascination of her species where these small victims were concerned; and she enjoyed life in the way cats do, eating when hungry, and sleeping the rest of her days.
silkenadjectiveUS /ˈsɪlkən/
having a smooth, gleaming surface reflecting light
From this reading She slept now with the greatest comfort under the silken eider-down quilt.
the state of being asleep
From this reading She had the usual fascination of her species where these small victims were concerned; and she enjoyed life in the way cats do, eating when hungry, and sleeping the rest of her days.
inflected form of “sleep” — be asleep
From this reading She slept now with the greatest comfort under the silken eider-down quilt.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She had the usual fascination of her species where these small victims were concerned; and she enjoyed life in the way cats do, eating when hungry, and sleeping the rest of her days.
snoozenounUS /snuːz/
sleeping for a short period of time (usually not in bed)
From this reading She rejoiced in the welcome warmth and purred softly to herself, not even troubling to regard the saucer of cream until she had had her snooze.
with low volume
From this reading She rejoiced in the welcome warmth and purred softly to herself, not even troubling to regard the saucer of cream until she had had her snooze.
speciesnounUS /ˈspiːʃiz/
(biology) taxonomic group whose members can interbreed
From this reading She had the usual fascination of her species where these small victims were concerned; and she enjoyed life in the way cats do, eating when hungry, and sleeping the rest of her days.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The kitchen cat was a very gentle beastie, except in the matter of killing birds and mice.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading She had the usual fascination of her species where these small victims were concerned; and she enjoyed life in the way cats do, eating when hungry, and sleeping the rest of her days.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She rejoiced in the welcome warmth and purred softly to herself, not even troubling to regard the saucer of cream until she had had her snooze.
troublingadjectiveUS /ˈtrʌbəlɪŋ/
causing distress or worry or anxiety
From this reading She rejoiced in the welcome warmth and purred softly to herself, not even troubling to regard the saucer of cream until she had had her snooze.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading She slept now with the greatest comfort under the silken eider-down quilt.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading She rejoiced in the welcome warmth and purred softly to herself, not even troubling to regard the saucer of cream until she had had her snooze.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading She had the usual fascination of her species where these small victims were concerned; and she enjoyed life in the way cats do, eating when hungry, and sleeping the rest of her days.
precisely as stated
From this reading The kitchen cat was a very gentle beastie, except in the matter of killing birds and mice.
victimsnounUS /ˈvɪktəmz/
plural of “victim” — an unfortunate person who suffers from some adverse circumstance
From this reading She had the usual fascination of her species where these small victims were concerned; and she enjoyed life in the way cats do, eating when hungry, and sleeping the rest of her days.
the sensation caused by heat energy
From this reading She rejoiced in the welcome warmth and purred softly to herself, not even troubling to regard the saucer of cream until she had had her snooze.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The kitchen cat was a very gentle beastie, except in the matter of killing birds and mice.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading She had the usual fascination of her species where these small victims were concerned; and she enjoyed life in the way cats do, eating when hungry, and sleeping the rest of her days.
accept gladly
From this reading She rejoiced in the welcome warmth and purred softly to herself, not even troubling to regard the saucer of cream until she had had her snooze.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading She had the usual fascination of her species where these small victims were concerned; and she enjoyed life in the way cats do, eating when hungry, and sleeping the rest of her days.
at the time that
From this reading She had the usual fascination of her species where these small victims were concerned; and she enjoyed life in the way cats do, eating when hungry, and sleeping the rest of her days.
in or at the place that
From this reading She had the usual fascination of her species where these small victims were concerned; and she enjoyed life in the way cats do, eating when hungry, and sleeping the rest of her days.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She slept now with the greatest comfort under the silken eider-down quilt.
