Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb Simple past tense and past participle of purr.

Etymologies

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Examples

  • We well recollect one fine brindled fellow, called 'Nero,' who, during his kittenhood, 'purred' the following epistle to a little girl who had been his playmate: --

    Heads and Tales : or, Anecdotes and Stories of Quadrupeds and Other Beasts, Chiefly Connected with Incidents in the Histories of More or Less Distinguished Men. Adam White 1848

  • But all the cups and saucers being clean, and in their proper places in the corner – cupboard; and the brass toasting – fork hanging in its usual nook and spreading its four idle fingers out as if it wanted to be measured for a glove; there remained no other visible tokens of the meal just finished, than such as purred and washed their whiskers in the person of the basking cat, and glistened in the gracious, not to say the greasy, faces of her patrons.

    The Chimes 2007

  • But all the cups and saucers being clean, and in their proper places in the corner cupboard; and the brass toasting fork hanging in its usual nook, and spreading its four idle fingers out, as if it wanted to be measured for a glove; there remained no other visible tokens of the meal just finished, than such as purred and washed their whiskers in the person of the basking cat, and glistened in the gracious, not to say the greasy, faces of her patrons.

    A Budget of Christmas Tales by Charles Dickens and Others Juliana Horatia Gatty Ewing 1892

  • But all the cups and saucers being clean, and in their proper places in the corner-cupboard; and the brass toasting-fork hanging in its usual nook and spreading its four idle fingers out as if it wanted to be measured for a glove; there remained no other visible tokens of the meal just finished, than such as purred and washed their whiskers in the person of the basking cat, and glistened in the gracious, not to say the greasy, faces of her patrons.

    The Chimes 1844

  • But all the cups and saucers being clean, and in their proper places in the corner-cupboard; and the brass toasting-fork hanging in its usual nook and spreading its four idle fingers out as if it wanted to be measured for a glove; there remained no other visible tokens of the meal just finished, than such as purred and washed their whiskers in the person of the basking cat, and glistened in the gracious, not to say the greasy, faces of her patrons.

    The Chimes Charles Dickens 1841

  • Though he usually just curls up to take maximum advantage of your bodywarmth, this time he sat down like a sphinx with his front paws on my belly, staring at me as he purred.

    requests - giving mood nathreee 2010

  • Her laugh purred gently, her throat bobbing back and forth to expel the light sounds from her gaping mouth, her head tilted back and up.

    Pectoralis Minor Johnny Dantonio 2010

  • There was no disgrace in losing to a Russia team that purred like a high-performance engine and boasted players of far greater technical ability.

    Giovanni Trapattoni talks up Republic of Ireland positives after loss David Hytner 2010

  • She purred loudly as I grabbed the clutch and cranked the throttle.

    Famine Rides A Harley On His Days Off Erin Zulkoski 2011

  • Though he usually just curls up to take maximum advantage of your bodywarmth, this time he sat down like a sphinx with his front paws on my belly, staring at me as he purred.

    I'm in a giving mood nathreee 2010

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