English Dictionary

Definition of “dogged”

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dogged (ˈdɒɡɪdPronunciation for dogged) 

Definitions

adjective

  1. obstinately determined; wilful or tenacious

Alternative Forms

ˈdoggedly adverb ˈdoggedness noun

dog (dɒɡPronunciation for dog) 

Definitions

noun

    1. a domesticated canine mammal, a domesticated canine mammal, Canis familiaris, occurring in many breeds that show a great variety in size and form
    2. ((as modifier)  ⇒ dog biscuit 
    1. any other carnivore of the family any other carnivore of the family Canidae, such as the dingo and coyote
    2. ((as modifier)  ⇒ the dog family related adjective canine
    1. the male of animals of the dog family
    2. ((as modifier)  ⇒ a dog fox 
  4. (modifier)
    1. spurious, inferior, or useless  ⇒ dog Latin 
    2. ((in combination)  ⇒ dogberry 
  5. a mechanical device for gripping or holding, esp one of the axial slots by which gear wheels or shafts are engaged to transmit torque
  6. informal a fellow; chap  ⇒ you lucky dog 
  7. informal a man or boy regarded as unpleasant, contemptible, or wretched
  8. US informal a male friend: used as a term of address
  9. slang an unattractive or boring girl or woman
  10. US Canadian informal something unsatisfactory or inferior
  11. short for firedog
  12. any of various atmospheric phenomena See fogdog , seadog , sundog
  13. See a dog's chance
  14. See a dog's dinner
  15. See a dog's life
  16. See dog eat dog
  17. See like a dog's dinner
  18. See put on the dog

verb

Word forms: dogs, dogging, dogged
(tr)
  1. to pursue or follow after like a dog
  2. to trouble; plague  ⇒ to be dogged by ill health 
  3. to chase with a dog or dogs
  4. to grip, hold, or secure by a mechanical device

adverb

  1. (usually in combination) thoroughly; utterly  ⇒ dog-tired 

See also

dogs

Alternative Forms

ˈdogˌlike adjective

Word Origin

Old English docga, of obscure origin

Quotations

  • "Love me, love my dog" St. Bernard
  • "The more one gets to know of men, the more one values dogs" A. Toussenel
  • "Dogs live with man as courtiers round a monarch, steeped in the flattery of his notice and enriched with sinecures" Robert Louis Stevenson
  • "The great pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself too" Samuel Butler
  • "Histories are more full of examples of the fidelity of dogs than of friends" Alexander Pope
  • "Every dog has its day"
  • "Why keep a dog and bark yourself?"
  • "If you lie down with dogs, you will get up with fleas"
  • "A live dog is better than a dead lion"
  • "Let sleeping dogs lie"

Usage examples

  • `My career seems to have been dogged by too many good men ahead of me.
    Gaskin, Catherine, The Ambassador's Women (1986)
  • But as with many scientific success stories, this vaccine too is dogged by controversy.
    India Today (1998)
  • My admiration for Manchester United is only slightly less dogged.
    Globe and Mail (2003)
  • They began well, but lost their composure under duress, Robert's final flourish ample reward for United's dogged determination.
    Glasgow Herald (2001)
  • Even marriage seemed dogged by the shadow of death: his infant son had died early of infant crib death.
    Woolger, Roger J., Other Lives, Other Selves (1987)

Commonness

All English words that begin with 'D'

Related Terms

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