used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The rat makes a better pet than the mouse, for it is very quick-witted, while the mouse is apt to be dull.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Among animal stories there is one we are told about a white rat that seems worth telling.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Like all rats it had the habit of laying up a store of food for future use, and when it found a supply would never stop till it had carried it all away.
AmongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading Among animal stories there is one we are told about a white rat that seems worth telling.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The owner of this rat found it to be clean, loving and very lively.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading Among animal stories there is one we are told about a white rat that seems worth telling.
aptadjectiveUS /æpt/
(usually followed by “to”) naturally disposed toward
From this reading The rat makes a better pet than the mouse, for it is very quick-witted, while the mouse is apt to be dull.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Among animal stories there is one we are told about a white rat that seems worth telling.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Like all rats it had the habit of laying up a store of food for future use, and when it found a supply would never stop till it had carried it all away.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The rat makes a better pet than the mouse, for it is very quick-witted, while the mouse is apt to be dull.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading The rat makes a better pet than the mouse, for it is very quick-witted, while the mouse is apt to be dull.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading Like all rats it had the habit of laying up a store of food for future use, and when it found a supply would never stop till it had carried it all away.
free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits
From this reading The owner of this rat found it to be clean, loving and very lively.
lacking in liveliness or animation
From this reading The rat makes a better pet than the mouse, for it is very quick-witted, while the mouse is apt to be dull.
any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue
From this reading Like all rats it had the habit of laying up a store of food for future use, and when it found a supply would never stop till it had carried it all away.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The rat makes a better pet than the mouse, for it is very quick-witted, while the mouse is apt to be dull.
set up or found
From this reading The owner of this rat found it to be clean, loving and very lively.
arousing or provoking laughter
From this reading It was funny to watch it.
yet to be or coming
From this reading Like all rats it had the habit of laying up a store of food for future use, and when it found a supply would never stop till it had carried it all away.
an established custom
From this reading Like all rats it had the habit of laying up a store of food for future use, and when it found a supply would never stop till it had carried it all away.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Like all rats it had the habit of laying up a store of food for future use, and when it found a supply would never stop till it had carried it all away.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The rat makes a better pet than the mouse, for it is very quick-witted, while the mouse is apt to be dull.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The rat makes a better pet than the mouse, for it is very quick-witted, while the mouse is apt to be dull.
the production of eggs (especially in birds)
From this reading Like all rats it had the habit of laying up a store of food for future use, and when it found a supply would never stop till it had carried it all away.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Like all rats it had the habit of laying up a store of food for future use, and when it found a supply would never stop till it had carried it all away.
full of life and energy
From this reading The owner of this rat found it to be clean, loving and very lively.
feeling or showing love and affection
From this reading The owner of this rat found it to be clean, loving and very lively.
plural of “make” — a recognizable kind
From this reading The rat makes a better pet than the mouse, for it is very quick-witted, while the mouse is apt to be dull.
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 The rat makes a better pet than the mouse, for it is very quick-witted, while the mouse is apt to be dull.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Like all rats it had the habit of laying up a store of food for future use, and when it found a supply would never stop till it had carried it all away.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The owner of this rat found it to be clean, loving and very lively.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Among animal stories there is one we are told about a white rat that seems worth telling.
(law) someone who owns (is legal possessor of) a business
From this reading The owner of this rat found it to be clean, loving and very lively.
petnounUS /pet/
a domesticated animal kept for companionship or amusement
From this reading The rat makes a better pet than the mouse, for it is very quick-witted, while the mouse is apt to be dull.
quick-wittedadjective
mentally nimble and resourceful
From this reading The rat makes a better pet than the mouse, for it is very quick-witted, while the mouse is apt to be dull.
ratnounUS /ræt/
any of various long-tailed rodents similar to but larger than a mouse
From this reading The rat makes a better pet than the mouse, for it is very quick-witted, while the mouse is apt to be dull.
ratsnounUS /ræts/
plural of “rat” — any of various long-tailed rodents similar to but larger than a mouse
From this reading Like all rats it had the habit of laying up a store of food for future use, and when it found a supply would never stop till it had carried it all away.
third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Among animal stories there is one we are told about a white rat that seems worth telling.
come to a halt, stop moving
From this reading Like all rats it had the habit of laying up a store of food for future use, and when it found a supply would never stop till it had carried it all away.
a mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services
From this reading Like all rats it had the habit of laying up a store of food for future use, and when it found a supply would never stop till it had carried it all away.
plural of “story” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading Among animal stories there is one we are told about a white rat that seems worth telling.
give something useful or necessary to
From this reading Like all rats it had the habit of laying up a store of food for future use, and when it found a supply would never stop till it had carried it all away.
disclosing unintentionally something concealed
From this reading Among animal stories there is one we are told about a white rat that seems worth telling.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The rat makes a better pet than the mouse, for it is very quick-witted, while the mouse is apt to be dull.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Among animal stories there is one we are told about a white rat that seems worth telling.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The rat makes a better pet than the mouse, for it is very quick-witted, while the mouse is apt to be dull.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Among animal stories there is one we are told about a white rat that seems worth telling.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The owner of this rat found it to be clean, loving and very lively.
up to a particular time
From this reading Like all rats it had the habit of laying up a store of food for future use, and when it found a supply would never stop till it had carried it all away.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The rat makes a better pet than the mouse, for it is very quick-witted, while the mouse is apt to be dull.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading Among animal stories there is one we are told about a white rat that seems worth telling.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Like all rats it had the habit of laying up a store of food for future use, and when it found a supply would never stop till it had carried it all away.
the act of using
From this reading Like all rats it had the habit of laying up a store of food for future use, and when it found a supply would never stop till it had carried it all away.
precisely as stated
From this reading The rat makes a better pet than the mouse, for it is very quick-witted, while the mouse is apt to be dull.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was funny to watch it.
look attentively
From this reading It was funny to watch it.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Among animal stories there is one we are told about a white rat that seems worth telling.
at the time that
From this reading Like all rats it had the habit of laying up a store of food for future use, and when it found a supply would never stop till it had carried it all away.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading The rat makes a better pet than the mouse, for it is very quick-witted, while the mouse is apt to be dull.
a Caucasian
From this reading Among animal stories there is one we are told about a white rat that seems worth telling.
an indefinite quantity of something having a specified value
From this reading Among animal stories there is one we are told about a white rat that seems worth telling.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Like all rats it had the habit of laying up a store of food for future use, and when it found a supply would never stop till it had carried it all away.
