1792
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "In the summer of 1792, a gentleman who lived near Portsmouth, in England, had a favorite cat, with a family of kittens.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "In the summer of 1792, a gentleman who lived near Portsmouth, in England, had a favorite cat, with a family of kittens.
(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 As he did not wish so large an increase to his family, he ordered all the kittens to be drowned.
in addition
From this reading "The same day, the cat was missing, and, on farther search, one chicken also.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading As he did not wish so large an increase to his family, he ordered all the kittens to be drowned.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE CAT AND CHICKEN.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As he did not wish so large an increase to his family, he ordered all the kittens to be drowned.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading As he did not wish so large an increase to his family, he ordered all the kittens to be drowned.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "Diligent search was made in every place that could be thought of, but in vain.
feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and no ability to roar: domestic cats; wildcats
From this reading THE CAT AND CHICKEN.
CHICKENnounUS /ˈtʃɪkən/
the flesh of a chicken used for food
From this reading THE CAT AND CHICKEN.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading "Diligent search was made in every place that could be thought of, but in vain.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading "The same day, the cat was missing, and, on farther search, one chicken also.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading As he did not wish so large an increase to his family, he ordered all the kittens to be drowned.
DiligentadjectiveUS /ˈdɪlɪdʒənt/
quietly and steadily persevering especially in detail or exactness
From this reading "Diligent search was made in every place that could be thought of, but in vain.
drownedverbUS /draʊnd/
past form of “drown” — cover completely or make imperceptible
From this reading As he did not wish so large an increase to his family, he ordered all the kittens to be drowned.
a division of the United Kingdom
From this reading "In the summer of 1792, a gentleman who lived near Portsmouth, in England, had a favorite cat, with a family of kittens.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading "Diligent search was made in every place that could be thought of, but in vain.
a social unit living together
From this reading "In the summer of 1792, a gentleman who lived near Portsmouth, in England, had a favorite cat, with a family of kittens.
more distant in especially space or time
From this reading "The same day, the cat was missing, and, on farther search, one chicken also.
something regarded with special favor or liking
From this reading "In the summer of 1792, a gentleman who lived near Portsmouth, in England, had a favorite cat, with a family of kittens.
a man of refinement
From this reading "In the summer of 1792, a gentleman who lived near Portsmouth, in England, had a favorite cat, with a family of kittens.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "In the summer of 1792, a gentleman who lived near Portsmouth, in England, had a favorite cat, with a family of kittens.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As he did not wish so large an increase to his family, he ordered all the kittens to be drowned.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading As he did not wish so large an increase to his family, he ordered all the kittens to be drowned.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "In the summer of 1792, a gentleman who lived near Portsmouth, in England, had a favorite cat, with a family of kittens.
increasenounUS /ˌɪnˈkriːs/
a quantity that is added
From this reading As he did not wish so large an increase to his family, he ordered all the kittens to be drowned.
kittensnounUS /ˈkɪtənz/
plural of “kitten” — young domestic cat
From this reading "In the summer of 1792, a gentleman who lived near Portsmouth, in England, had a favorite cat, with a family of kittens.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading As he did not wish so large an increase to his family, he ordered all the kittens to be drowned.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading "In the summer of 1792, a gentleman who lived near Portsmouth, in England, had a favorite cat, with a family of kittens.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading "Diligent search was made in every place that could be thought of, but in vain.
missingadjectiveUS /ˈmɪsɪŋ/
not able to be found
From this reading "The same day, the cat was missing, and, on farther search, one chicken also.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading "In the summer of 1792, a gentleman who lived near Portsmouth, in England, had a favorite cat, with a family of kittens.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading As he did not wish so large an increase to his family, he ordered all the kittens to be drowned.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "In the summer of 1792, a gentleman who lived near Portsmouth, in England, had a favorite cat, with a family of kittens.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "The same day, the cat was missing, and, on farther search, one chicken also.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "The same day, the cat was missing, and, on farther search, one chicken also.
having a systematic arrangement; especially having elements succeeding in order according to rule
From this reading As he did not wish so large an increase to his family, he ordered all the kittens to be drowned.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading "Diligent search was made in every place that could be thought of, but in vain.
PortsmouthnounUS /ˈpɔːrtsməθ/
a port city in southeastern Virginia on the Elizabeth River opposite Norfolk; naval base; shipyards
From this reading "In the summer of 1792, a gentleman who lived near Portsmouth, in England, had a favorite cat, with a family of kittens.
Identical; not different.
From this reading "The same day, the cat was missing, and, on farther search, one chicken also.
try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of
From this reading "The same day, the cat was missing, and, on farther search, one chicken also.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading As he did not wish so large an increase to his family, he ordered all the kittens to be drowned.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading "In the summer of 1792, a gentleman who lived near Portsmouth, in England, had a favorite cat, with a family of kittens.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "Diligent search was made in every place that could be thought of, but in vain.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE CAT AND CHICKEN.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading "Diligent search was made in every place that could be thought of, but in vain.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading As he did not wish so large an increase to his family, he ordered all the kittens to be drowned.
characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
From this reading "Diligent search was made in every place that could be thought of, but in vain.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "The same day, the cat was missing, and, on farther search, one chicken also.
which person or people
From this reading "In the summer of 1792, a gentleman who lived near Portsmouth, in England, had a favorite cat, with a family of kittens.
hope for; have a wish
From this reading As he did not wish so large an increase to his family, he ordered all the kittens to be drowned.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "In the summer of 1792, a gentleman who lived near Portsmouth, in England, had a favorite cat, with a family of kittens.
