used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading MOODS Sally was a cat with moods.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading It was at these times that she thought of her dear mother and lamented her loss, for even dear Miss Harvey, who understood so well the feelings of a cat, could not quite make up for a furry mother who would put her paw about her and wash her when she was too tired to do it for herself.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading Oxford was not of much use as a sympathizer, and yet Sally always had the hope that he would be.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When she was well and busy, she was a happy kitten, but if there was the least thing wrong with her, she felt very forlorn.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading So one hot summer day, when Sally felt very unhappy and as if she were of no use to any one, she spoke to Oxford of her feelings.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Oxford was not of much use as a sympathizer, and yet Sally always had the hope that he would be.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was at these times that she thought of her dear mother and lamented her loss, for even dear Miss Harvey, who understood so well the feelings of a cat, could not quite make up for a furry mother who would put her paw about her and wash her when she was too tired to do it for herself.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Oxford was not of much use as a sympathizer, and yet Sally always had the hope that he would be.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading When she was well and busy, she was a happy kitten, but if there was the least thing wrong with her, she felt very forlorn.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading When she was well and busy, she was a happy kitten, but if there was the least thing wrong with her, she felt very forlorn.
feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and no ability to roar: domestic cats; wildcats
From this reading MOODS Sally was a cat with moods.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It was at these times that she thought of her dear mother and lamented her loss, for even dear Miss Harvey, who understood so well the feelings of a cat, could not quite make up for a furry mother who would put her paw about her and wash her when she was too tired to do it for herself.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading So one hot summer day, when Sally felt very unhappy and as if she were of no use to any one, she spoke to Oxford of her feelings.
dearly loved
From this reading It was at these times that she thought of her dear mother and lamented her loss, for even dear Miss Harvey, who understood so well the feelings of a cat, could not quite make up for a furry mother who would put her paw about her and wash her when she was too tired to do it for herself.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading It was at these times that she thought of her dear mother and lamented her loss, for even dear Miss Harvey, who understood so well the feelings of a cat, could not quite make up for a furry mother who would put her paw about her and wash her when she was too tired to do it for herself.
divisible by two
From this reading It was at these times that she thought of her dear mother and lamented her loss, for even dear Miss Harvey, who understood so well the feelings of a cat, could not quite make up for a furry mother who would put her paw about her and wash her when she was too tired to do it for herself.
emotional or moral sensitivity (especially in relation to personal principles or dignity)
From this reading It was at these times that she thought of her dear mother and lamented her loss, for even dear Miss Harvey, who understood so well the feelings of a cat, could not quite make up for a furry mother who would put her paw about her and wash her when she was too tired to do it for herself.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading When she was well and busy, she was a happy kitten, but if there was the least thing wrong with her, she felt very forlorn.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was at these times that she thought of her dear mother and lamented her loss, for even dear Miss Harvey, who understood so well the feelings of a cat, could not quite make up for a furry mother who would put her paw about her and wash her when she was too tired to do it for herself.
forlornadjectiveUS /fərˈlɔːrn/
marked by or showing hopelessness
From this reading When she was well and busy, she was a happy kitten, but if there was the least thing wrong with her, she felt very forlorn.
furryadjectiveUS /ˈfɜːri/
covered with a dense coat of fine silky hairs
From this reading It was at these times that she thought of her dear mother and lamented her loss, for even dear Miss Harvey, who understood so well the feelings of a cat, could not quite make up for a furry mother who would put her paw about her and wash her when she was too tired to do it for herself.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Oxford was not of much use as a sympathizer, and yet Sally always had the hope that he would be.
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading When she was well and busy, she was a happy kitten, but if there was the least thing wrong with her, she felt very forlorn.
HarveynounUS /ˈhɑːrvi/
English physician and scientist who described the circulation of the blood; he later proposed that all animals originate from an ovum produced by the female of the species (1578-1657)
From this reading It was at these times that she thought of her dear mother and lamented her loss, for even dear Miss Harvey, who understood so well the feelings of a cat, could not quite make up for a furry mother who would put her paw about her and wash her when she was too tired to do it for herself.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Oxford was not of much use as a sympathizer, and yet Sally always had the hope that he would be.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading When she was well and busy, she was a happy kitten, but if there was the least thing wrong with her, she felt very forlorn.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading It was at these times that she thought of her dear mother and lamented her loss, for even dear Miss Harvey, who understood so well the feelings of a cat, could not quite make up for a furry mother who would put her paw about her and wash her when she was too tired to do it for herself.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading Oxford was not of much use as a sympathizer, and yet Sally always had the hope that he would be.
used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading So one hot summer day, when Sally felt very unhappy and as if she were of no use to any one, she spoke to Oxford of her feelings.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading When she was well and busy, she was a happy kitten, but if there was the least thing wrong with her, she felt very forlorn.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was at these times that she thought of her dear mother and lamented her loss, for even dear Miss Harvey, who understood so well the feelings of a cat, could not quite make up for a furry mother who would put her paw about her and wash her when she was too tired to do it for herself.
kittennounUS /ˈkɪtən/
young domestic cat
From this reading When she was well and busy, she was a happy kitten, but if there was the least thing wrong with her, she felt very forlorn.
lamentedadjectiveUS /ləˈmentɪd/
mourned or grieved for
From this reading It was at these times that she thought of her dear mother and lamented her loss, for even dear Miss Harvey, who understood so well the feelings of a cat, could not quite make up for a furry mother who would put her paw about her and wash her when she was too tired to do it for herself.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading When she was well and busy, she was a happy kitten, but if there was the least thing wrong with her, she felt very forlorn.
something that is lost
From this reading It was at these times that she thought of her dear mother and lamented her loss, for even dear Miss Harvey, who understood so well the feelings of a cat, could not quite make up for a furry mother who would put her paw about her and wash her when she was too tired to do it for herself.
engage in
From this reading It was at these times that she thought of her dear mother and lamented her loss, for even dear Miss Harvey, who understood so well the feelings of a cat, could not quite make up for a furry mother who would put her paw about her and wash her when she was too tired to do it for herself.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading It was at these times that she thought of her dear mother and lamented her loss, for even dear Miss Harvey, who understood so well the feelings of a cat, could not quite make up for a furry mother who would put her paw about her and wash her when she was too tired to do it for herself.
MOODSnounUS /muːdz/
plural of “mood” — a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling
From this reading MOODS Sally was a cat with moods.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading It was at these times that she thought of her dear mother and lamented her loss, for even dear Miss Harvey, who understood so well the feelings of a cat, could not quite make up for a furry mother who would put her paw about her and wash her when she was too tired to do it for herself.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Oxford was not of much use as a sympathizer, and yet Sally always had the hope that he would be.
not any; not one
From this reading So one hot summer day, when Sally felt very unhappy and as if she were of no use to any one, she spoke to Oxford of her feelings.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was at these times that she thought of her dear mother and lamented her loss, for even dear Miss Harvey, who understood so well the feelings of a cat, could not quite make up for a furry mother who would put her paw about her and wash her when she was too tired to do it for herself.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was at these times that she thought of her dear mother and lamented her loss, for even dear Miss Harvey, who understood so well the feelings of a cat, could not quite make up for a furry mother who would put her paw about her and wash her when she was too tired to do it for herself.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading So one hot summer day, when Sally felt very unhappy and as if she were of no use to any one, she spoke to Oxford of her feelings.
OxfordnounUS /ˈɑːksfərd/
a city in southern England to the northwest of London; site of Oxford University
From this reading Oxford was not of much use as a sympathizer, and yet Sally always had the hope that he would be.
pawverbUS /pɔː/
scrape with the paws
From this reading It was at these times that she thought of her dear mother and lamented her loss, for even dear Miss Harvey, who understood so well the feelings of a cat, could not quite make up for a furry mother who would put her paw about her and wash her when she was too tired to do it for herself.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading It was at these times that she thought of her dear mother and lamented her loss, for even dear Miss Harvey, who understood so well the feelings of a cat, could not quite make up for a furry mother who would put her paw about her and wash her when she was too tired to do it for herself.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading It was at these times that she thought of her dear mother and lamented her loss, for even dear Miss Harvey, who understood so well the feelings of a cat, could not quite make up for a furry mother who would put her paw about her and wash her when she was too tired to do it for herself.
witty remark
From this reading MOODS Sally was a cat with moods.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When she was well and busy, she was a happy kitten, but if there was the least thing wrong with her, she felt very forlorn.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It was at these times that she thought of her dear mother and lamented her loss, for even dear Miss Harvey, who understood so well the feelings of a cat, could not quite make up for a furry mother who would put her paw about her and wash her when she was too tired to do it for herself.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading So one hot summer day, when Sally felt very unhappy and as if she were of no use to any one, she spoke to Oxford of her feelings.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading So one hot summer day, when Sally felt very unhappy and as if she were of no use to any one, she spoke to Oxford of her feelings.
sympathizernounUS /ˈsɪmpəθaɪzər/
a person who commiserates with someone who has had misfortune
From this reading Oxford was not of much use as a sympathizer, and yet Sally always had the hope that he would be.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was at these times that she thought of her dear mother and lamented her loss, for even dear Miss Harvey, who understood so well the feelings of a cat, could not quite make up for a furry mother who would put her paw about her and wash her when she was too tired to do it for herself.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When she was well and busy, she was a happy kitten, but if there was the least thing wrong with her, she felt very forlorn.
in or at that place or location
From this reading When she was well and busy, she was a happy kitten, but if there was the least thing wrong with her, she felt very forlorn.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading It was at these times that she thought of her dear mother and lamented her loss, for even dear Miss Harvey, who understood so well the feelings of a cat, could not quite make up for a furry mother who would put her paw about her and wash her when she was too tired to do it for herself.
a special situation
From this reading When she was well and busy, she was a happy kitten, but if there was the least thing wrong with her, she felt very forlorn.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading It was at these times that she thought of her dear mother and lamented her loss, for even dear Miss Harvey, who understood so well the feelings of a cat, could not quite make up for a furry mother who would put her paw about her and wash her when she was too tired to do it for herself.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading It was at these times that she thought of her dear mother and lamented her loss, for even dear Miss Harvey, who understood so well the feelings of a cat, could not quite make up for a furry mother who would put her paw about her and wash her when she was too tired to do it for herself.
tiredadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪərd/
depleted of strength or energy
From this reading It was at these times that she thought of her dear mother and lamented her loss, for even dear Miss Harvey, who understood so well the feelings of a cat, could not quite make up for a furry mother who would put her paw about her and wash her when she was too tired to do it for herself.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was at these times that she thought of her dear mother and lamented her loss, for even dear Miss Harvey, who understood so well the feelings of a cat, could not quite make up for a furry mother who would put her paw about her and wash her when she was too tired to do it for herself.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading It was at these times that she thought of her dear mother and lamented her loss, for even dear Miss Harvey, who understood so well the feelings of a cat, could not quite make up for a furry mother who would put her paw about her and wash her when she was too tired to do it for herself.
fully apprehended as to purport or meaning or explanation
From this reading It was at these times that she thought of her dear mother and lamented her loss, for even dear Miss Harvey, who understood so well the feelings of a cat, could not quite make up for a furry mother who would put her paw about her and wash her when she was too tired to do it for herself.
experiencing or marked by or causing sadness or sorrow or discontent
From this reading So one hot summer day, when Sally felt very unhappy and as if she were of no use to any one, she spoke to Oxford of her feelings.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading It was at these times that she thought of her dear mother and lamented her loss, for even dear Miss Harvey, who understood so well the feelings of a cat, could not quite make up for a furry mother who would put her paw about her and wash her when she was too tired to do it for herself.
the act of using
From this reading Oxford was not of much use as a sympathizer, and yet Sally always had the hope that he would be.
precisely as stated
From this reading When she was well and busy, she was a happy kitten, but if there was the least thing wrong with her, she felt very forlorn.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading MOODS Sally was a cat with moods.
washverbUS /wɑːʃ/
clean with some chemical process
From this reading It was at these times that she thought of her dear mother and lamented her loss, for even dear Miss Harvey, who understood so well the feelings of a cat, could not quite make up for a furry mother who would put her paw about her and wash her when she was too tired to do it for herself.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading When she was well and busy, she was a happy kitten, but if there was the least thing wrong with her, she felt very forlorn.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading So one hot summer day, when Sally felt very unhappy and as if she were of no use to any one, she spoke to Oxford of her feelings.
at the time that
From this reading When she was well and busy, she was a happy kitten, but if there was the least thing wrong with her, she felt very forlorn.
which person or people
From this reading It was at these times that she thought of her dear mother and lamented her loss, for even dear Miss Harvey, who understood so well the feelings of a cat, could not quite make up for a furry mother who would put her paw about her and wash her when she was too tired to do it for herself.
in the company of; together with
From this reading MOODS Sally was a cat with moods.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It was at these times that she thought of her dear mother and lamented her loss, for even dear Miss Harvey, who understood so well the feelings of a cat, could not quite make up for a furry mother who would put her paw about her and wash her when she was too tired to do it for herself.
not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth
From this reading When she was well and busy, she was a happy kitten, but if there was the least thing wrong with her, she felt very forlorn.
but in spite of that
From this reading Oxford was not of much use as a sympathizer, and yet Sally always had the hope that he would be.
