used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I wouldn't have touched it for a king's ransom."
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading "I've touched it a good few times," said Stephen, laughing, "and it never did aught worse to me than rub itself against me and mew.
a person or thing that is a resource that helps make something easier or possible to do
From this reading "Eh, Saint Frideswide be our aid!
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "I've touched it a good few times," said Stephen, laughing, "and it never did aught worse to me than rub itself against me and mew.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading "No, not of a real cat; but that--" "It is just as real a cat as any other.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "No, not of a real cat; but that--" "It is just as real a cat as any other.
aughtnounUS /ɔːt/
a quantity of no importance
From this reading "I've touched it a good few times," said Stephen, laughing, "and it never did aught worse to me than rub itself against me and mew.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "Eh, Saint Frideswide be our aid!
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "No, not of a real cat; but that--" "It is just as real a cat as any other.
feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and no ability to roar: domestic cats; wildcats
From this reading Why, surely, man! you're not feared of a cat?"
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading "I've touched it a good few times," said Stephen, laughing, "and it never did aught worse to me than rub itself against me and mew.
Eh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Eh, Saint Frideswide be our aid!
past form of “fear” — be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading Why, surely, man! you're not feared of a cat?"
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading "I've touched it a good few times," said Stephen, laughing, "and it never did aught worse to me than rub itself against me and mew.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I wouldn't have touched it for a king's ransom."
Frideswide
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Eh, Saint Frideswide be our aid!
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading "I've touched it a good few times," said Stephen, laughing, "and it never did aught worse to me than rub itself against me and mew.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I wouldn't have touched it for a king's ransom."
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I wouldn't have touched it for a king's ransom."
I've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I've touched it a good few times," said Stephen, laughing, "and it never did aught worse to me than rub itself against me and mew.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "No, not of a real cat; but that--" "It is just as real a cat as any other.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I wouldn't have touched it for a king's ransom."
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading "I've touched it a good few times," said Stephen, laughing, "and it never did aught worse to me than rub itself against me and mew.
and nothing more
From this reading "No, not of a real cat; but that--" "It is just as real a cat as any other.
king'snounUS /kɪŋz/
possessive form of “king” — a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading I wouldn't have touched it for a king's ransom."
showing or feeling mirth or pleasure or happiness
From this reading "I've touched it a good few times," said Stephen, laughing, "and it never did aught worse to me than rub itself against me and mew.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Why, surely, man! you're not feared of a cat?"
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "I've touched it a good few times," said Stephen, laughing, "and it never did aught worse to me than rub itself against me and mew.
mewverbUS /mjuː/
cry like a cat
From this reading "I've touched it a good few times," said Stephen, laughing, "and it never did aught worse to me than rub itself against me and mew.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading "I've touched it a good few times," said Stephen, laughing, "and it never did aught worse to me than rub itself against me and mew.
not any; not one
From this reading "No, not of a real cat; but that--" "It is just as real a cat as any other.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Why, surely, man! you're not feared of a cat?"
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Why, surely, man! you're not feared of a cat?"
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading "No, not of a real cat; but that--" "It is just as real a cat as any other.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading "Eh, Saint Frideswide be our aid!
ransomnounUS /ˈrænsəm/
money demanded for the return of a captured person
From this reading I wouldn't have touched it for a king's ransom."
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading "No, not of a real cat; but that--" "It is just as real a cat as any other.
rubverbUS /rʌb/
move over something with pressure
From this reading "I've touched it a good few times," said Stephen, laughing, "and it never did aught worse to me than rub itself against me and mew.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "I've touched it a good few times," said Stephen, laughing, "and it never did aught worse to me than rub itself against me and mew.
a person who has died and has been declared a saint by canonization
From this reading "Eh, Saint Frideswide be our aid!
StephennounUS /ˈstiːvən/
English writer (1832-1904)
From this reading "I've touched it a good few times," said Stephen, laughing, "and it never did aught worse to me than rub itself against me and mew.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading Why, surely, man! you're not feared of a cat?"
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading "I've touched it a good few times," said Stephen, laughing, "and it never did aught worse to me than rub itself against me and mew.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "No, not of a real cat; but that--" "It is just as real a cat as any other.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading "I've touched it a good few times," said Stephen, laughing, "and it never did aught worse to me than rub itself against me and mew.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "I've touched it a good few times," said Stephen, laughing, "and it never did aught worse to me than rub itself against me and mew.
having come into contact
From this reading I wouldn't have touched it for a king's ransom."
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading Why, surely, man! you're not feared of a cat?"
(comparative of “bad”) inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability
From this reading "I've touched it a good few times," said Stephen, laughing, "and it never did aught worse to me than rub itself against me and mew.
wouldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I wouldn't have touched it for a king's ransom."
you're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why, surely, man! you're not feared of a cat?"
