used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They were as happy as if they had been mice—which, in a country where there are no cats, is saying a good deal.
filled with fear or apprehension
From this reading Of course the Prince is still afraid of cats.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading So the Prince and his bride returned to the palace and lived happy ever after.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading So the Prince and his bride returned to the palace and lived happy ever after.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were as happy as if they had been mice—which, in a country where there are no cats, is saying a good deal.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading They were as happy as if they had been mice—which, in a country where there are no cats, is saying a good deal.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “It’s lucky for you,” said the Great White Rat, “that you chose to swallow the Cat’s-eye, because people who have been moused by that means can never be un-moused except _in pairs_.
for the reason that
From this reading “It’s lucky for you,” said the Great White Rat, “that you chose to swallow the Cat’s-eye, because people who have been moused by that means can never be un-moused except _in pairs_.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “It’s lucky for you,” said the Great White Rat, “that you chose to swallow the Cat’s-eye, because people who have been moused by that means can never be un-moused except _in pairs_.
a woman who has recently been married
From this reading So the Prince and his bride returned to the palace and lived happy ever after.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading “It’s lucky for you,” said the Great White Rat, “that you chose to swallow the Cat’s-eye, because people who have been moused by that means can never be un-moused except _in pairs_.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading “It’s lucky for you,” said the Great White Rat, “that you chose to swallow the Cat’s-eye, because people who have been moused by that means can never be un-moused except _in pairs_.
Cat's-eye
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It’s lucky for you,” said the Great White Rat, “that you chose to swallow the Cat’s-eye, because people who have been moused by that means can never be un-moused except _in pairs_.
catsnounUS /kæts/
plural of “cat” — feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and no ability to roar: domestic cats; wildcats
From this reading They were as happy as if they had been mice—which, in a country where there are no cats, is saying a good deal.
inflected form of “choose” — pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives
From this reading “It’s lucky for you,” said the Great White Rat, “that you chose to swallow the Cat’s-eye, because people who have been moused by that means can never be un-moused except _in pairs_.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading They were as happy as if they had been mice—which, in a country where there are no cats, is saying a good deal.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading Of course the Prince is still afraid of cats.
act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression
From this reading They were as happy as if they had been mice—which, in a country where there are no cats, is saying a good deal.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Nothing is impossible if people only love each other enough.”
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading Nothing is impossible if people only love each other enough.”
at any time
From this reading So the Prince and his bride returned to the palace and lived happy ever after.
apart from; not including
From this reading “It’s lucky for you,” said the Great White Rat, “that you chose to swallow the Cat’s-eye, because people who have been moused by that means can never be un-moused except _in pairs_.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “It’s lucky for you,” said the Great White Rat, “that you chose to swallow the Cat’s-eye, because people who have been moused by that means can never be un-moused except _in pairs_.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading They were as happy as if they had been mice—which, in a country where there are no cats, is saying a good deal.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading “It’s lucky for you,” said the Great White Rat, “that you chose to swallow the Cat’s-eye, because people who have been moused by that means can never be un-moused except _in pairs_.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They were as happy as if they had been mice—which, in a country where there are no cats, is saying a good deal.
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading So the Prince and his bride returned to the palace and lived happy ever after.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “It’s lucky for you,” said the Great White Rat, “that you chose to swallow the Cat’s-eye, because people who have been moused by that means can never be un-moused except _in pairs_.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading So the Prince and his bride returned to the palace and lived happy ever after.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Nothing is impossible if people only love each other enough.”
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading Nothing is impossible if people only love each other enough.”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “It’s lucky for you,” said the Great White Rat, “that you chose to swallow the Cat’s-eye, because people who have been moused by that means can never be un-moused except _in pairs_.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Nothing is impossible if people only love each other enough.”
It's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It’s lucky for you,” said the Great White Rat, “that you chose to swallow the Cat’s-eye, because people who have been moused by that means can never be un-moused except _in pairs_.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading So the Prince and his bride returned to the palace and lived happy ever after.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading Nothing is impossible if people only love each other enough.”
occurring by chance
From this reading “It’s lucky for you,” said the Great White Rat, “that you chose to swallow the Cat’s-eye, because people who have been moused by that means can never be un-moused except _in pairs_.
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading “It’s lucky for you,” said the Great White Rat, “that you chose to swallow the Cat’s-eye, because people who have been moused by that means can never be un-moused except _in pairs_.
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 They were as happy as if they had been mice—which, in a country where there are no cats, is saying a good deal.
moused
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It’s lucky for you,” said the Great White Rat, “that you chose to swallow the Cat’s-eye, because people who have been moused by that means can never be un-moused except _in pairs_.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading “It’s lucky for you,” said the Great White Rat, “that you chose to swallow the Cat’s-eye, because people who have been moused by that means can never be un-moused except _in pairs_.
not any; not one
From this reading They were as happy as if they had been mice—which, in a country where there are no cats, is saying a good deal.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Nothing is impossible if people only love each other enough.”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Of course the Prince is still afraid of cats.
and nothing more
From this reading Nothing is impossible if people only love each other enough.”
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Nothing is impossible if people only love each other enough.”
pairsnounUS /perz/
plural of “pair” — a set of two similar things considered as a unit
From this reading “It’s lucky for you,” said the Great White Rat, “that you chose to swallow the Cat’s-eye, because people who have been moused by that means can never be un-moused except _in pairs_.
a large and stately mansion
From this reading So the Prince and his bride returned to the palace and lived happy ever after.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading “It’s lucky for you,” said the Great White Rat, “that you chose to swallow the Cat’s-eye, because people who have been moused by that means can never be un-moused except _in pairs_.
a male member of a royal family other than the sovereign (especially the son of a sovereign)
From this reading So the Prince and his bride returned to the palace and lived happy ever after.
RatnounUS /ræt/
any of various long-tailed rodents similar to but larger than a mouse
From this reading “It’s lucky for you,” said the Great White Rat, “that you chose to swallow the Cat’s-eye, because people who have been moused by that means can never be un-moused except _in pairs_.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading So the Prince and his bride returned to the palace and lived happy ever after.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “It’s lucky for you,” said the Great White Rat, “that you chose to swallow the Cat’s-eye, because people who have been moused by that means can never be un-moused except _in pairs_.
a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations
From this reading They were as happy as if they had been mice—which, in a country where there are no cats, is saying a good deal.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So the Prince and his bride returned to the palace and lived happy ever after.
not in physical motion
From this reading Of course the Prince is still afraid of cats.
swallowverbUS /ˈswɑːloʊ/
pass through the esophagus as part of eating or drinking
From this reading “It’s lucky for you,” said the Great White Rat, “that you chose to swallow the Cat’s-eye, because people who have been moused by that means can never be un-moused except _in pairs_.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “It’s lucky for you,” said the Great White Rat, “that you chose to swallow the Cat’s-eye, because people who have been moused by that means can never be un-moused except _in pairs_.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “It’s lucky for you,” said the Great White Rat, “that you chose to swallow the Cat’s-eye, because people who have been moused by that means can never be un-moused except _in pairs_.
in or at that place or location
From this reading They were as happy as if they had been mice—which, in a country where there are no cats, is saying a good deal.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were as happy as if they had been mice—which, in a country where there are no cats, is saying a good deal.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “It’s lucky for you,” said the Great White Rat, “that you chose to swallow the Cat’s-eye, because people who have been moused by that means can never be un-moused except _in pairs_.
un-moused
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It’s lucky for you,” said the Great White Rat, “that you chose to swallow the Cat’s-eye, because people who have been moused by that means can never be un-moused except _in pairs_.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were as happy as if they had been mice—which, in a country where there are no cats, is saying a good deal.
in or at the place that
From this reading They were as happy as if they had been mice—which, in a country where there are no cats, is saying a good deal.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading They were as happy as if they had been mice—which, in a country where there are no cats, is saying a good deal.
a Caucasian
From this reading “It’s lucky for you,” said the Great White Rat, “that you chose to swallow the Cat’s-eye, because people who have been moused by that means can never be un-moused except _in pairs_.
which person or people
From this reading “It’s lucky for you,” said the Great White Rat, “that you chose to swallow the Cat’s-eye, because people who have been moused by that means can never be un-moused except _in pairs_.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “It’s lucky for you,” said the Great White Rat, “that you chose to swallow the Cat’s-eye, because people who have been moused by that means can never be un-moused except _in pairs_.
