Perhaps I can help here (tongue firmly in cheek):<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Jan 7, 2008 11:02 AM, Jay Rudin <<a href="mailto:rudin@ev1.net">rudin@ev1.net</a>> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
<snip><br>I can't even give a clear definition for "dog" that unambiguously includes<br>Great Danes, Pekinese, mutts and feral dogs, but excludes tame wolves,<br>foxes and coyotes. Nonetheless, I knew what a dog was by age 4. How was I
<br>taught the meaning? By pointing -- "That's a dog, that's one too, but<br>that's a cat."<br><br></blockquote></div><font size="2"><span class="me">dog</span> <span class="pronset"> <img class="luna-Img" src="http://cache.lexico.com/dictionary/graphics/luna/thinsp.png" alt="" border="0">
<span class="show_ipapr" style="display: none;"><span class="prondelim">/</span><span class="pron">dɔg, </span><span class="pron">dɒg</span><span class="prondelim">/</span> <a class="pronlink" onclick="pk = window.open('/help/luna/IPA_pron_key.html', 'PronunciationKey','height=700,width=560,left=0,top=0,resizable,scrollbars');if(pk){pk.focus();}" onmouseout="status='';return true;" onmouseover="status='Click for pronunciation key';return true;" title="Click for pronunciation key">
Pronunciation Key</a><span class="pron_toggle" style="display: inline;"><span class="prondelim"> - </span><a class="pronlink" onclick="javascript:show_sp()" onmouseout="status='';return true;" onmouseover="status='Click to toggle pronunciation';return true;" title="Click to show spelled pronunciation">
Show Spelled Pronunciation</a></span></span><span class="show_spellpr" style="display: inline;"><span class="prondelim">[</span><span class="pron">dawg, </span><span class="pron">dog</span><span class="prondelim">]</span>
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</a></span></span><span class="pg">noun, verb, </span><span class="secondary-bf">dogged, </span><span class="secondary-bf">dog·ging. </span></font><div class="body"><font size="2"><span class="pg">–noun </span></font><table class="luna-Ent">
<tbody><tr><td class="dn" valign="top"><font size="2">1.</font></td><td valign="top"><font size="2">a domesticated canid, <i>Canis familiaris,</i> bred in many varieties. </font></td></tr></tbody></table>
<table class="luna-Ent"><tbody><tr><td class="dn" valign="top"><font size="2">2.</font></td><td valign="top"><font size="2">any
carnivore of the dogfamily Canidae, having prominent canine teeth and,
in the wild state, a long and slender muzzle, a deep-chested muscular
body, a bushy tail, and large, erect ears. <span>Compare <a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=canid" style="font-variant: small-caps;">canid</a>.</span></font> </td></tr></tbody></table>
<table class="luna-Ent"><tbody><tr><td class="dn" valign="top"><font size="2">3.</font></td><td valign="top"><font size="2">the male of such an animal. </font></td></tr></tbody></table>
<table class="luna-Ent"><tbody><tr><td class="dn" valign="top"><font size="2">4.</font></td><td valign="top"><font size="2">any of various animals resembling a dog. </font></td></tr></tbody></table>
<table class="luna-Ent"><tbody><tr><td class="dn" valign="top"><font size="2">5.</font></td><td valign="top"><font size="2">a despicable man or youth. </font></td></tr></tbody></table>
<table class="luna-Ent"><tbody><tr><td class="dn" valign="top"><font size="2">6.</font></td><td valign="top"><font size="2"><span class="labset"><span class="ital-inline">Informal</span>. </span>a fellow in general: <span class="ital-inline">
a lucky dog. </span></font> </td></tr></tbody></table>
<table class="luna-Ent"><tbody><tr><td class="dn" valign="top"><font size="2">7.</font></td><td valign="top"><font size="2"><span class="secondary-bf">dogs, </span><span class="labset"><span class="ital-inline">Slang</span>
. </span><span><a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=feet" style="font-variant: small-caps;">feet.</a></span></font> </td></tr></tbody></table>
<table class="luna-Ent"><tbody><tr><td class="dn" valign="top"><font size="2">8.</font></td><td valign="top"><font size="2"><span class="labset"><span class="ital-inline">Slang</span>. </span></font><table class="luna-Ent">
<tbody><tr><td class="dn" valign="top"><font size="2">a.</font></td><td valign="top"><font size="2">something worthless or of extremely poor quality: <span class="ital-inline">That used car you bought is a dog. </span></font>
</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table class="luna-Ent"><tbody><tr><td class="dn" valign="top"><font size="2">b.</font></td><td valign="top"><font size="2">an utter failure; flop: <span class="ital-inline">Critics say his new play is a dog. </span></font>
</td></tr></tbody></table>
</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table class="luna-Ent"><tbody><tr><td class="dn" valign="top"><font size="2">9.</font></td><td valign="top"><font size="2"><span class="labset"><span class="ital-inline">Slang</span>. </span>an ugly, boring, or crude person.
</font></td></tr></tbody></table>
<table class="luna-Ent"><tbody><tr><td class="dn" valign="top"><font size="2">10.</font></td><td valign="top"><font size="2"><span class="labset"><span class="ital-inline">Slang</span>. </span><span><a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=hot%20dog" style="font-variant: small-caps;">
hot dog.</a></span></font> </td></tr></tbody></table>
<table class="luna-Ent"><tbody><tr><td class="dn" valign="top"><font size="2">11.</font></td><td valign="top"><font size="2"><span class="labset">(<span class="ital-inline">initial capital letter</span><img class="luna-Img" src="http://cache.lexico.com/dictionary/graphics/luna/thinsp.png" alt="" border="0">
) </span><span class="labset"><span class="ital-inline">Astronomy</span>. </span>either of two constellations, Canis Major or Canis Minor. </font></td></tr></tbody></table>
<table class="luna-Ent"><tbody><tr><td class="dn" valign="top"><font size="2">12.</font></td><td valign="top"><font size="2"><span class="labset"><span class="ital-inline">Machinery</span>. </span></font><table class="luna-Ent">
<tbody><tr><td class="dn" valign="top"><font size="2">a.</font></td><td valign="top"><font size="2">any of various mechanical devices, as for gripping or holding something. </font></td></tr></tbody></table>
<table class="luna-Ent"><tbody><tr><td class="dn" valign="top"><font size="2">b.</font></td><td valign="top"><font size="2">a projection on a moving part for moving steadily or for tripping another part with which it engages.
</font></td></tr></tbody></table>
</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table class="luna-Ent"><tbody><tr><td class="dn" valign="top"><font size="2">13.</font></td><td valign="top"><font size="2"><span class="varf">Also called <span><a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=gripper" style="font-weight: bold;">
gripper</a>, <a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=nipper" style="font-weight: bold;">nipper.</a></span> </span><span class="labset"><span class="ital-inline">Metalworking</span>. </span>a device on a drawbench for drawing the work through the die.
</font></td></tr></tbody></table>
<table class="luna-Ent"><tbody><tr><td class="dn" valign="top"><font size="2">14.</font></td><td valign="top"><font size="2">a cramp binding together two timbers. </font></td></tr></tbody></table>
<table class="luna-Ent"><tbody><tr><td class="dn" valign="top"><font size="2">15.</font></td><td valign="top"><font size="2">an iron bar driven into a stone or timber to provide a means of lifting it. </font></td></tr></tbody>
</table>
<table class="luna-Ent"><tbody><tr><td class="dn" valign="top"><font size="2">16.</font></td><td valign="top"><font size="2">an andiron; firedog. </font></td></tr></tbody></table>
<table class="luna-Ent"><tbody><tr><td class="dn" valign="top"><font size="2">17.</font></td><td valign="top"><font size="2"><span class="labset"><span class="ital-inline">Meteorology</span>. </span>a sundog or fogdog. </font>
</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table class="luna-Ent"><tbody><tr><td class="dn" valign="top"><font size="2">18.</font></td><td valign="top"><font size="2">a word formerly used in communications to represent the letter D. </font></td></tr></tbody></table>
<font size="2"><span class="pg">–verb (used with object) </span></font><table class="luna-Ent"><tbody><tr><td class="dn" valign="top"><font size="2">19.</font></td><td valign="top"><font size="2">to follow or track like a dog, esp. with hostile intent; hound.
</font></td></tr></tbody></table>
<table class="luna-Ent"><tbody><tr><td class="dn" valign="top"><font size="2">20.</font></td><td valign="top"><font size="2">to drive or chase with a dog or dogs. </font></td></tr></tbody></table>
<table class="luna-Ent"><tbody><tr><td class="dn" valign="top"><font size="2">21.</font></td><td valign="top"><font size="2"><span class="labset"><span class="ital-inline">Machinery</span>. </span>to fasten with dogs. </font>
</td></tr></tbody></table>
<font size="2"><span class="sectionLabel">—Idioms</span></font><table class="luna-Ent"><tbody><tr><td class="dn" valign="top"><font size="2">22.</font></td><td valign="top"><font size="2"><span class="secondary-bf">dog it,
</span><span class="labset"><span class="ital-inline">Informal</span>. </span></font><table class="luna-Ent"><tbody><tr><td class="dn" valign="top"><font size="2">a.</font></td><td valign="top"><font size="2">to shirk one's responsibility; loaf on the job.
</font></td></tr></tbody></table>
<table class="luna-Ent"><tbody><tr><td class="dn" valign="top"><font size="2">b.</font></td><td valign="top"><font size="2">to retreat, flee, renege, etc.: <span class="ital-inline">a sponsor who dogged it when needed most.
</span></font> </td></tr></tbody></table>
</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table class="luna-Ent"><tbody><tr><td class="dn" valign="top"><font size="2">23.</font></td><td valign="top"><font size="2"><span class="secondary-bf">go to the dogs, </span><span class="labset"><span class="ital-inline">
Informal</span>. </span>to deteriorate; degenerate morally or physically: <span class="ital-inline">This neighborhood is going to the dogs. </span></font> </td></tr></tbody></table>
<table class="luna-Ent"><tbody><tr><td class="dn" valign="top"><font size="2">24.</font></td><td valign="top"><font size="2"><span class="secondary-bf">lead a dog's life, </span>to have an unhappy or harassed existence:
<span class="ital-inline">He maintained that he led a dog's life in the army. </span></font> </td></tr></tbody></table>
<table class="luna-Ent"><tbody><tr><td class="dn" valign="top"><font size="2">25.</font></td><td valign="top"><font size="2"><span class="secondary-bf">let sleeping dogs lie, </span>to refrain from action that would alter an existing situation for fear of causing greater problems or complexities.
</font></td></tr></tbody></table>
<table class="luna-Ent"><tbody><tr><td class="dn" valign="top"><font size="2">26.</font></td><td valign="top"><font size="2"><span class="secondary-bf">put on the dog, </span><span class="labset"><span class="ital-inline">
Informal</span>. </span>to assume an attitude of wealth or importance; put on airs. </font></td></tr></tbody></table>
</div><hr class="ety"><div class="ety"><font size="2">[Origin: <span class="rom-inline">bef. 1050; </span>ME <i>dogge,</i> OE <i>docga</i><img class="luna-Img" src="http://cache.lexico.com/dictionary/graphics/luna/thinsp.png" alt="" border="0">
] </font></div><br clear="all"><br>Yet, I'm fairly sure if I call myself a dog, that doesn't make me one.<br>Sorry -- couldn't resist.<br>~ihon<br>-- <br> " When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle." Edmund Burke