Chapter I

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading One evening when a company of children and older people were looking at funny cat-pictures and telling cat-stories, a little ten-year-old girl asked: “Why can there not be a Cats’ Arabian Nights Story Book?”

(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 “I propose,” said uncle Fred, “that cousin Lucia put together a Cats’ Arabian Nights for little children, and have it ready to read to our little children when they all shall come next summer with their fathers and mothers.”

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading One evening when a company of children and older people were looking at funny cat-pictures and telling cat-stories, a little ten-year-old girl asked: “Why can there not be a Cats’ Arabian Nights Story Book?”

a member of a Semitic people originally from the Arabian peninsula and surrounding territories who speaks Arabic and who inhabits much of the Middle East and northern Africa

From this reading One evening when a company of children and older people were looking at funny cat-pictures and telling cat-stories, a little ten-year-old girl asked: “Why can there not be a Cats’ Arabian Nights Story Book?”

past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading One evening when a company of children and older people were looking at funny cat-pictures and telling cat-stories, a little ten-year-old girl asked: “Why can there not be a Cats’ Arabian Nights Story Book?”

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading One evening when a company of children and older people were looking at funny cat-pictures and telling cat-stories, a little ten-year-old girl asked: “Why can there not be a Cats’ Arabian Nights Story Book?”

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading One evening when a company of children and older people were looking at funny cat-pictures and telling cat-stories, a little ten-year-old girl asked: “Why can there not be a Cats’ Arabian Nights Story Book?”

a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)

From this reading One evening when a company of children and older people were looking at funny cat-pictures and telling cat-stories, a little ten-year-old girl asked: “Why can there not be a Cats’ Arabian Nights Story Book?”

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading One evening when a company of children and older people were looking at funny cat-pictures and telling cat-stories, a little ten-year-old girl asked: “Why can there not be a Cats’ Arabian Nights Story Book?”

feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and no ability to roar: domestic cats; wildcats

From this reading “There would have to be a Cat King, or Emperor, or Sultan,” said her next older sister.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading One evening when a company of children and older people were looking at funny cat-pictures and telling cat-stories, a little ten-year-old girl asked: “Why can there not be a Cats’ Arabian Nights Story Book?”

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading One evening when a company of children and older people were looking at funny cat-pictures and telling cat-stories, a little ten-year-old girl asked: “Why can there not be a Cats’ Arabian Nights Story Book?”

plural of “cat” — feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and no ability to roar: domestic cats; wildcats

From this reading One evening when a company of children and older people were looking at funny cat-pictures and telling cat-stories, a little ten-year-old girl asked: “Why can there not be a Cats’ Arabian Nights Story Book?”

plural of “child” — a young person of either sex

From this reading One evening when a company of children and older people were looking at funny cat-pictures and telling cat-stories, a little ten-year-old girl asked: “Why can there not be a Cats’ Arabian Nights Story Book?”

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading “I propose,” said uncle Fred, “that cousin Lucia put together a Cats’ Arabian Nights for little children, and have it ready to read to our little children when they all shall come next summer with their fathers and mothers.”

an institution created to conduct business

From this reading One evening when a company of children and older people were looking at funny cat-pictures and telling cat-stories, a little ten-year-old girl asked: “Why can there not be a Cats’ Arabian Nights Story Book?”

the child of your aunt or uncle

From this reading “And a Cat Queen, or Empress, or Sultaness,” said their cousin Joe, the sailor.

the male ruler of an empire

From this reading “There would have to be a Cat King, or Emperor, or Sultan,” said her next older sister.

a woman emperor or the wife of an emperor

From this reading “And a Cat Queen, or Empress, or Sultaness,” said their cousin Joe, the sailor.

the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)

From this reading One evening when a company of children and older people were looking at funny cat-pictures and telling cat-stories, a little ten-year-old girl asked: “Why can there not be a Cats’ Arabian Nights Story Book?”

plural of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading “I propose,” said uncle Fred, “that cousin Lucia put together a Cats’ Arabian Nights for little children, and have it ready to read to our little children when they all shall come next summer with their fathers and mothers.”

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading “I propose,” said uncle Fred, “that cousin Lucia put together a Cats’ Arabian Nights for little children, and have it ready to read to our little children when they all shall come next summer with their fathers and mothers.”

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “I propose,” said uncle Fred, “that cousin Lucia put together a Cats’ Arabian Nights for little children, and have it ready to read to our little children when they all shall come next summer with their fathers and mothers.”

arousing or provoking laughter

From this reading One evening when a company of children and older people were looking at funny cat-pictures and telling cat-stories, a little ten-year-old girl asked: “Why can there not be a Cats’ Arabian Nights Story Book?”

a young female

From this reading One evening when a company of children and older people were looking at funny cat-pictures and telling cat-stories, a little ten-year-old girl asked: “Why can there not be a Cats’ Arabian Nights Story Book?”

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading “And she would have to go on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, telling stories in order to save her own life,” said their cousin Lucia.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “There would have to be a Cat King, or Emperor, or Sultan,” said her next older sister.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading “There would have to be a Cat King, or Emperor, or Sultan,” said her next older sister.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading “I propose,” said uncle Fred, “that cousin Lucia put together a Cats’ Arabian Nights for little children, and have it ready to read to our little children when they all shall come next summer with their fathers and mothers.”

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading “And she would have to go on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, telling stories in order to save her own life,” said their cousin Lucia.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading “I propose,” said uncle Fred, “that cousin Lucia put together a Cats’ Arabian Nights for little children, and have it ready to read to our little children when they all shall come next summer with their fathers and mothers.”

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “And a Cat Queen, or Empress, or Sultaness,” said their cousin Joe, the sailor.

a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom

From this reading “There would have to be a Cat King, or Emperor, or Sultan,” said her next older sister.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading “And she would have to go on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, telling stories in order to save her own life,” said their cousin Lucia.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading One evening when a company of children and older people were looking at funny cat-pictures and telling cat-stories, a little ten-year-old girl asked: “Why can there not be a Cats’ Arabian Nights Story Book?”

the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually

From this reading One evening when a company of children and older people were looking at funny cat-pictures and telling cat-stories, a little ten-year-old girl asked: “Why can there not be a Cats’ Arabian Nights Story Book?”

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “And she would have to go on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, telling stories in order to save her own life,” said their cousin Lucia.

plural of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading “I propose,” said uncle Fred, “that cousin Lucia put together a Cats’ Arabian Nights for little children, and have it ready to read to our little children when they all shall come next summer with their fathers and mothers.”

immediately following in time or order

From this reading “There would have to be a Cat King, or Emperor, or Sultan,” said her next older sister.

Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.

From this reading One evening when a company of children and older people were looking at funny cat-pictures and telling cat-stories, a little ten-year-old girl asked: “Why can there not be a Cats’ Arabian Nights Story Book?”

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading One evening when a company of children and older people were looking at funny cat-pictures and telling cat-stories, a little ten-year-old girl asked: “Why can there not be a Cats’ Arabian Nights Story Book?”

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading One evening when a company of children and older people were looking at funny cat-pictures and telling cat-stories, a little ten-year-old girl asked: “Why can there not be a Cats’ Arabian Nights Story Book?”

advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)

From this reading One evening when a company of children and older people were looking at funny cat-pictures and telling cat-stories, a little ten-year-old girl asked: “Why can there not be a Cats’ Arabian Nights Story Book?”

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading “And she would have to go on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, telling stories in order to save her own life,” said their cousin Lucia.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading One evening when a company of children and older people were looking at funny cat-pictures and telling cat-stories, a little ten-year-old girl asked: “Why can there not be a Cats’ Arabian Nights Story Book?”

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading “There would have to be a Cat King, or Emperor, or Sultan,” said her next older sister.

(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed

From this reading “And she would have to go on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, telling stories in order to save her own life,” said their cousin Lucia.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading “I propose,” said uncle Fred, “that cousin Lucia put together a Cats’ Arabian Nights for little children, and have it ready to read to our little children when they all shall come next summer with their fathers and mothers.”

have ownership or possession of

From this reading “And she would have to go on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, telling stories in order to save her own life,” said their cousin Lucia.

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading One evening when a company of children and older people were looking at funny cat-pictures and telling cat-stories, a little ten-year-old girl asked: “Why can there not be a Cats’ Arabian Nights Story Book?”

make a proposal, declare a plan for something

From this reading “I propose,” said uncle Fred, “that cousin Lucia put together a Cats’ Arabian Nights for little children, and have it ready to read to our little children when they all shall come next summer with their fathers and mothers.”

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading “I propose,” said uncle Fred, “that cousin Lucia put together a Cats’ Arabian Nights for little children, and have it ready to read to our little children when they all shall come next summer with their fathers and mothers.”

the only fertile female in a colony of social insects such as bees and ants and termites; its function is to lay eggs

From this reading “And a Cat Queen, or Empress, or Sultaness,” said their cousin Joe, the sailor.

interpret something that is written or printed

From this reading “I propose,” said uncle Fred, “that cousin Lucia put together a Cats’ Arabian Nights for little children, and have it ready to read to our little children when they all shall come next summer with their fathers and mothers.”

completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress

From this reading “I propose,” said uncle Fred, “that cousin Lucia put together a Cats’ Arabian Nights for little children, and have it ready to read to our little children when they all shall come next summer with their fathers and mothers.”

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading “There would have to be a Cat King, or Emperor, or Sultan,” said her next older sister.

any member of a ship's crew

From this reading “And a Cat Queen, or Empress, or Sultaness,” said their cousin Joe, the sailor.

except for; apart from

From this reading “And she would have to go on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, telling stories in order to save her own life,” said their cousin Lucia.

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading “I propose,” said uncle Fred, “that cousin Lucia put together a Cats’ Arabian Nights for little children, and have it ready to read to our little children when they all shall come next summer with their fathers and mothers.”

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading “And she would have to go on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, telling stories in order to save her own life,” said their cousin Lucia.

a female person who has the same parents as another person

From this reading “There would have to be a Cat King, or Emperor, or Sultan,” said her next older sister.

plural of “story” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading “And she would have to go on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, telling stories in order to save her own life,” said their cousin Lucia.

a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading One evening when a company of children and older people were looking at funny cat-pictures and telling cat-stories, a little ten-year-old girl asked: “Why can there not be a Cats’ Arabian Nights Story Book?”

A noble monarch or supreme sovereign ruler of an Islamic country or empire.

From this reading “There would have to be a Cat King, or Emperor, or Sultan,” said her next older sister.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “And a Cat Queen, or Empress, or Sultaness,” said their cousin Joe, the sailor.

the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox

From this reading “I propose,” said uncle Fred, “that cousin Lucia put together a Cats’ Arabian Nights for little children, and have it ready to read to our little children when they all shall come next summer with their fathers and mothers.”

disclosing unintentionally something concealed

From this reading One evening when a company of children and older people were looking at funny cat-pictures and telling cat-stories, a little ten-year-old girl asked: “Why can there not be a Cats’ Arabian Nights Story Book?”

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading One evening when a company of children and older people were looking at funny cat-pictures and telling cat-stories, a little ten-year-old girl asked: “Why can there not be a Cats’ Arabian Nights Story Book?”

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading “I propose,” said uncle Fred, “that cousin Lucia put together a Cats’ Arabian Nights for little children, and have it ready to read to our little children when they all shall come next summer with their fathers and mothers.”

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading “And a Cat Queen, or Empress, or Sultaness,” said their cousin Joe, the sailor.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading “And a Cat Queen, or Empress, or Sultaness,” said their cousin Joe, the sailor.

in or at that place or location

From this reading One evening when a company of children and older people were looking at funny cat-pictures and telling cat-stories, a little ten-year-old girl asked: “Why can there not be a Cats’ Arabian Nights Story Book?”

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading “I propose,” said uncle Fred, “that cousin Lucia put together a Cats’ Arabian Nights for little children, and have it ready to read to our little children when they all shall come next summer with their fathers and mothers.”

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading “There would have to be a Cat King, or Emperor, or Sultan,” said her next older sister.

in contact with each other or in proximity

From this reading “I propose,” said uncle Fred, “that cousin Lucia put together a Cats’ Arabian Nights for little children, and have it ready to read to our little children when they all shall come next summer with their fathers and mothers.”

the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt

From this reading “I propose,” said uncle Fred, “that cousin Lucia put together a Cats’ Arabian Nights for little children, and have it ready to read to our little children when they all shall come next summer with their fathers and mothers.”

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading One evening when a company of children and older people were looking at funny cat-pictures and telling cat-stories, a little ten-year-old girl asked: “Why can there not be a Cats’ Arabian Nights Story Book?”

at the time that

From this reading One evening when a company of children and older people were looking at funny cat-pictures and telling cat-stories, a little ten-year-old girl asked: “Why can there not be a Cats’ Arabian Nights Story Book?”

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading One evening when a company of children and older people were looking at funny cat-pictures and telling cat-stories, a little ten-year-old girl asked: “Why can there not be a Cats’ Arabian Nights Story Book?”

in the company of; together with

From this reading “I propose,” said uncle Fred, “that cousin Lucia put together a Cats’ Arabian Nights for little children, and have it ready to read to our little children when they all shall come next summer with their fathers and mothers.”

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “There would have to be a Cat King, or Emperor, or Sultan,” said her next older sister.