possum

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“
Which is what they told him; "a possum is a wild animal, and we handle domesticated animals, like dogs and cats."

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Definitions (8)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (2)

  1. noun Chiefly Southern U.S. An opossum.
  2. Regional Note
    Since English is a language that stresses some syllables and not others, weakly stressed syllables, especially those preceding strong stresses, are dropped at times. This process, called aphesis when it occurs at the beginning of a word, is more common in regional American dialects than in the more conservative Standard English, which tends to retain in pronunciation anything reflected in spelling. Although many American dialects feature aphesis, it is most famous in the dialects of the South, where it yields pronunciations such as count of for (on) account of, tater for potato, possum for opossum, and skeeter for mosquito.

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Toggle GNU Webster definitions GNU Webster's 1913 (1)

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Examples (50)

  • I did enjoy the night hunts however, for coon and possum were our quarry. —  Before the War, and After the Union. An Autobiography.
  • While the harmless little rabbit will not even defend himself when attacked, the possum is shy and crafty and the coon will fight. —  Before the War, and After the Union. An Autobiography.
  • At this moment he didn't know whom he hated worse—Delaney for causing the fuss, or Miles for the possum-eating grin he'd been wearing all day Never one to let a good silence extend itself, Eudora tucked her handkerchief into her cleavage and rang a small bell near her chair Moments later a tall, dark-skinned man dressed in virgin whites entered the room. —  Sharon Sala - Ryder's Wife
  • PS awesome possum is a happy phrase uttered by me when happy. —  Forensics & Faith
  • "Potential" is from an adjective related to possum, and so means "being able," and also gives us the English word "potential." —  Autism Hub
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Etymologies (3)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Short for opossum.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (2)

  1. Formerly also possoune, possowne, etc.; by apheresis from opossum.
  2. from possum, n.
 

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/ˈpɑsəm/
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