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Added 9 October 2026

pet

/pɛt/ noun

In Latin: grātiōsus Wiktionary

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about pet at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

An animal kept as a companion or otherwise for pleasure, rather than for some practical benefit or use.
family pet, pet cat, pet dog, pet store
Something kept as a companion, including inanimate objects.
pet plant, pet rock
One who is excessively loyal to a superior and receives preferential treatment.

verb

To stroke or fondle (an animal).
I really love to pet cute puppies.
To stroke or fondle (another person) amorously.
We started petting each other the moment we were alone.
To keep or treat (an animal) as a pet.

adjective

Favourite; cherished; the focus of one's (usually positive) attention.
a pet project
Kept or treated as a pet.
pet rock
Good; ideal.

noun

A fit of petulance, a sulk, arising from the impression that one has been offended or slighted.

Origin

Originally northern dialectal, from Scots pet (“an animal that has been tamed and is kept as a pet; a darling or favourite; a petted or spoiled child”), probably from Scottish Gaelic peata (“pet, tamed animal, spoiled child”), from Middle Irish petta, peta (“pet, lap-dog”), of uncertain origin, possibly from a pre-Indo-European substrate. Compare also peat (“pet, darling, woman”), which is likely not related. The verb is derived from the noun.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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