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Definition pet
Etymology 1
Attested since the 1500s in the sense "indulged child" and since the 1530s in the sense "animal companion". From Scots and dialectal Northern English, of unclear origin. Perhaps a back-formation of petty, pety (“little, small”), a term formerly used to describe children and animals (e.g. pet lambs). Alternatively, perhaps a borrowing of Scottish Gaelic peata, from Old Irish petta, peta (“pet, lap-dog”), of uncertain (possibly pre-Proto-Indo-European) origin. Compare peat (“pet, darling, woman”).
The verb is derived from the noun.
Noun
pet (plural pets)
- An animal kept as a companion.
- (by extension) Something kept as a companion, including inanimate objects. (pet rock, pet plant, etc.)
- One who is excessively loyal to a superior.
- Any person or animal especially cherished and indulged; a darling.
Verb
pet (third-person singular simple present pets, present participle petting, simple past and past participle petted or (nonstandard) pet)
- (transitive) To stroke or fondle (an animal).
- (transitive, informal) To stroke or fondle (another person) amorously.
- (intransitive, informal) Of two or more people, to stroke and fondle one another amorously.
- (dated, transitive) To treat as a pet; to fondle; to indulge.
- (archaic, intransitive) To be a pet.
- (archaic, intransitive) To be peevish; to sulk.
Adjective
pet (not comparable)
- Favourite; cherished.
- Kept or treated as a pet.
Etymology 2
Clipping of petulance.
Noun
pet (plural pets)
Etymology 3
Clipping of petition.
Noun
pet (plural pets)
- Abbreviation of petition.
Etymology 4
Clipping of petal.
Noun
pet (plural pets)
- (Geordie) A term of endearment usually applied to women and children.
Results 446 Words with the letters PET
6 letter words with the letters PET ↑
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You can also try words with the phrase PET, words starting with the letters PET, or words ending in the letters PET.
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