used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For My _Chapter One_ MY FATHER MEETS THE CAT One cold rainy day when my father was a little boy, he met an old alley cat on his street.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading This surprised the cat--she had never before met anyone who cared about old alley cats--but she said, "I'd be very much obliged if I could sit by a warm furnace, and perhaps have a saucer of milk."
alleynounUS /ˈæli/
a narrow street with walls on both sides
From this reading For My _Chapter One_ MY FATHER MEETS THE CAT One cold rainy day when my father was a little boy, he met an old alley cat on his street.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading For My _Chapter One_ MY FATHER MEETS THE CAT One cold rainy day when my father was a little boy, he met an old alley cat on his street.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The cat was very drippy and uncomfortable so my father said, "Wouldn't you like to come home with me?"
any person at all
From this reading This surprised the cat--she had never before met anyone who cared about old alley cats--but she said, "I'd be very much obliged if I could sit by a warm furnace, and perhaps have a saucer of milk."
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading This surprised the cat--she had never before met anyone who cared about old alley cats--but she said, "I'd be very much obliged if I could sit by a warm furnace, and perhaps have a saucer of milk."
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading My father and the cat became good friends but my father's mother was very upset about the cat.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading This surprised the cat--she had never before met anyone who cared about old alley cats--but she said, "I'd be very much obliged if I could sit by a warm furnace, and perhaps have a saucer of milk."
a youthful male person
From this reading For My _Chapter One_ MY FATHER MEETS THE CAT One cold rainy day when my father was a little boy, he met an old alley cat on his street.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading This surprised the cat--she had never before met anyone who cared about old alley cats--but she said, "I'd be very much obliged if I could sit by a warm furnace, and perhaps have a saucer of milk."
showing who or what does the action
From this reading This surprised the cat--she had never before met anyone who cared about old alley cats--but she said, "I'd be very much obliged if I could sit by a warm furnace, and perhaps have a saucer of milk."
past form of “care” — feel concern or interest
From this reading This surprised the cat--she had never before met anyone who cared about old alley cats--but she said, "I'd be very much obliged if I could sit by a warm furnace, and perhaps have a saucer of milk."
feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and no ability to roar: domestic cats; wildcats
From this reading For My _Chapter One_ MY FATHER MEETS THE CAT One cold rainy day when my father was a little boy, he met an old alley cat on his street.
catsnounUS /kæts/
plural of “cat” — feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and no ability to roar: domestic cats; wildcats
From this reading This surprised the cat--she had never before met anyone who cared about old alley cats--but she said, "I'd be very much obliged if I could sit by a warm furnace, and perhaps have a saucer of milk."
a subdivision of a written work; usually numbered and titled
From this reading For My _Chapter One_ MY FATHER MEETS THE CAT One cold rainy day when my father was a little boy, he met an old alley cat on his street.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading For My _Chapter One_ MY FATHER MEETS THE CAT One cold rainy day when my father was a little boy, he met an old alley cat on his street.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The cat was very drippy and uncomfortable so my father said, "Wouldn't you like to come home with me?"
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading This surprised the cat--she had never before met anyone who cared about old alley cats--but she said, "I'd be very much obliged if I could sit by a warm furnace, and perhaps have a saucer of milk."
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading For My _Chapter One_ MY FATHER MEETS THE CAT One cold rainy day when my father was a little boy, he met an old alley cat on his street.
drippyadjective
wet with light rain
From this reading The cat was very drippy and uncomfortable so my father said, "Wouldn't you like to come home with me?"
extraadjectiveUS /ˈekstrə/
more than is needed, desired, or required
From this reading "We have a very nice furnace to sit by," said my father, "and I'm sure my mother has an extra saucer of milk."
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading For My _Chapter One_ MY FATHER MEETS THE CAT One cold rainy day when my father was a little boy, he met an old alley cat on his street.
father'snounUS /ˈfɑːðərz/
possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading My father and the cat became good friends but my father's mother was very upset about the cat.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For My _Chapter One_ MY FATHER MEETS THE CAT One cold rainy day when my father was a little boy, he met an old alley cat on his street.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading My father and the cat became good friends but my father's mother was very upset about the cat.
furnacenounUS /ˈfɜːrnəs/
an enclosed chamber in which heat is produced to heat buildings, destroy refuse, smelt or refine ores, etc.
From this reading This surprised the cat--she had never before met anyone who cared about old alley cats--but she said, "I'd be very much obliged if I could sit by a warm furnace, and perhaps have a saucer of milk."
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading My father and the cat became good friends but my father's mother was very upset about the cat.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading This surprised the cat--she had never before met anyone who cared about old alley cats--but she said, "I'd be very much obliged if I could sit by a warm furnace, and perhaps have a saucer of milk."
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "We have a very nice furnace to sit by," said my father, "and I'm sure my mother has an extra saucer of milk."
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading This surprised the cat--she had never before met anyone who cared about old alley cats--but she said, "I'd be very much obliged if I could sit by a warm furnace, and perhaps have a saucer of milk."
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For My _Chapter One_ MY FATHER MEETS THE CAT One cold rainy day when my father was a little boy, he met an old alley cat on his street.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading For My _Chapter One_ MY FATHER MEETS THE CAT One cold rainy day when my father was a little boy, he met an old alley cat on his street.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading The cat was very drippy and uncomfortable so my father said, "Wouldn't you like to come home with me?"
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading This surprised the cat--she had never before met anyone who cared about old alley cats--but she said, "I'd be very much obliged if I could sit by a warm furnace, and perhaps have a saucer of milk."
I'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This surprised the cat--she had never before met anyone who cared about old alley cats--but she said, "I'd be very much obliged if I could sit by a warm furnace, and perhaps have a saucer of milk."
I'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "We have a very nice furnace to sit by," said my father, "and I'm sure my mother has an extra saucer of milk."
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading This surprised the cat--she had never before met anyone who cared about old alley cats--but she said, "I'd be very much obliged if I could sit by a warm furnace, and perhaps have a saucer of milk."
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The cat was very drippy and uncomfortable so my father said, "Wouldn't you like to come home with me?"
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading For My _Chapter One_ MY FATHER MEETS THE CAT One cold rainy day when my father was a little boy, he met an old alley cat on his street.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The cat was very drippy and uncomfortable so my father said, "Wouldn't you like to come home with me?"
MEETSnounUS /miːts/
plural of “meet” — a meeting at which a number of athletic contests are held
From this reading For My _Chapter One_ MY FATHER MEETS THE CAT One cold rainy day when my father was a little boy, he met an old alley cat on his street.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading For My _Chapter One_ MY FATHER MEETS THE CAT One cold rainy day when my father was a little boy, he met an old alley cat on his street.
a white nutritious liquid secreted by mammals and used as food by human beings
From this reading This surprised the cat--she had never before met anyone who cared about old alley cats--but she said, "I'd be very much obliged if I could sit by a warm furnace, and perhaps have a saucer of milk."
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading "We have a very nice furnace to sit by," said my father, "and I'm sure my mother has an extra saucer of milk."
to a great degree or extent
From this reading This surprised the cat--she had never before met anyone who cared about old alley cats--but she said, "I'd be very much obliged if I could sit by a warm furnace, and perhaps have a saucer of milk."
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading For My _Chapter One_ MY FATHER MEETS THE CAT One cold rainy day when my father was a little boy, he met an old alley cat on his street.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading This surprised the cat--she had never before met anyone who cared about old alley cats--but she said, "I'd be very much obliged if I could sit by a warm furnace, and perhaps have a saucer of milk."
pleasant or pleasing or agreeable in nature or appearance
From this reading "We have a very nice furnace to sit by," said my father, "and I'm sure my mother has an extra saucer of milk."
under a moral obligation to do something
From this reading This surprised the cat--she had never before met anyone who cared about old alley cats--but she said, "I'd be very much obliged if I could sit by a warm furnace, and perhaps have a saucer of milk."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading This surprised the cat--she had never before met anyone who cared about old alley cats--but she said, "I'd be very much obliged if I could sit by a warm furnace, and perhaps have a saucer of milk."
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading For My _Chapter One_ MY FATHER MEETS THE CAT One cold rainy day when my father was a little boy, he met an old alley cat on his street.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading For My _Chapter One_ MY FATHER MEETS THE CAT One cold rainy day when my father was a little boy, he met an old alley cat on his street.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading For My _Chapter One_ MY FATHER MEETS THE CAT One cold rainy day when my father was a little boy, he met an old alley cat on his street.
by chance
From this reading This surprised the cat--she had never before met anyone who cared about old alley cats--but she said, "I'd be very much obliged if I could sit by a warm furnace, and perhaps have a saucer of milk."
rainyadjectiveUS /ˈreɪni/
(of weather) wet by periods of rain
From this reading For My _Chapter One_ MY FATHER MEETS THE CAT One cold rainy day when my father was a little boy, he met an old alley cat on his street.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading The cat was very drippy and uncomfortable so my father said, "Wouldn't you like to come home with me?"
saucernounUS /ˈsɔːsər/
something with a round shape resembling a flat circular plate
From this reading This surprised the cat--she had never before met anyone who cared about old alley cats--but she said, "I'd be very much obliged if I could sit by a warm furnace, and perhaps have a saucer of milk."
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading This surprised the cat--she had never before met anyone who cared about old alley cats--but she said, "I'd be very much obliged if I could sit by a warm furnace, and perhaps have a saucer of milk."
be seated
From this reading This surprised the cat--she had never before met anyone who cared about old alley cats--but she said, "I'd be very much obliged if I could sit by a warm furnace, and perhaps have a saucer of milk."
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The cat was very drippy and uncomfortable so my father said, "Wouldn't you like to come home with me?"
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading For My _Chapter One_ MY FATHER MEETS THE CAT One cold rainy day when my father was a little boy, he met an old alley cat on his street.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading "We have a very nice furnace to sit by," said my father, "and I'm sure my mother has an extra saucer of milk."
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading This surprised the cat--she had never before met anyone who cared about old alley cats--but she said, "I'd be very much obliged if I could sit by a warm furnace, and perhaps have a saucer of milk."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading For My _Chapter One_ MY FATHER MEETS THE CAT One cold rainy day when my father was a little boy, he met an old alley cat on his street.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This surprised the cat--she had never before met anyone who cared about old alley cats--but she said, "I'd be very much obliged if I could sit by a warm furnace, and perhaps have a saucer of milk."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The cat was very drippy and uncomfortable so my father said, "Wouldn't you like to come home with me?"
uncomfortableadjectiveUS /ənˈkʌmfərtəbəl/
conducive to or feeling mental discomfort
From this reading The cat was very drippy and uncomfortable so my father said, "Wouldn't you like to come home with me?"
upsetverbUS /əpˈset/
disturb the balance or stability of
From this reading My father and the cat became good friends but my father's mother was very upset about the cat.
precisely as stated
From this reading The cat was very drippy and uncomfortable so my father said, "Wouldn't you like to come home with me?"
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading This surprised the cat--she had never before met anyone who cared about old alley cats--but she said, "I'd be very much obliged if I could sit by a warm furnace, and perhaps have a saucer of milk."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading For My _Chapter One_ MY FATHER MEETS THE CAT One cold rainy day when my father was a little boy, he met an old alley cat on his street.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "We have a very nice furnace to sit by," said my father, "and I'm sure my mother has an extra saucer of milk."
at the time that
From this reading For My _Chapter One_ MY FATHER MEETS THE CAT One cold rainy day when my father was a little boy, he met an old alley cat on his street.
which person or people
From this reading This surprised the cat--she had never before met anyone who cared about old alley cats--but she said, "I'd be very much obliged if I could sit by a warm furnace, and perhaps have a saucer of milk."
in the company of; together with
From this reading The cat was very drippy and uncomfortable so my father said, "Wouldn't you like to come home with me?"
Wouldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cat was very drippy and uncomfortable so my father said, "Wouldn't you like to come home with me?"
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading The cat was very drippy and uncomfortable so my father said, "Wouldn't you like to come home with me?"
