dog's eared
Definition
- Adjective: "Dog's eared" (also spelled "dog-eared") describes a book, page, or document that has its corners bent or folded, typically from repeated use or wear. This is a compound word where "dog's ear" refers to a folded corner resembling a dog's ear.
Usage Examples
- (The book had many bent corners due to frequent handling.)
- (The book's corners were folded, showing it was well-read.)
- (The paper corners were bent to indicate important sections.)
Advanced Usage
"To dog's ear a page": to intentionally fold the corner of a page as a bookmark or to mark a passage.
- He dog's eared the page to remember where he left off. (He bent the corner of the page as a marker.)
"Dog's eared condition": a state of being worn or shabby, often applied to books or documents.
- The manuscript was in a dog's eared condition, showing its age. (The document had many folded corners and signs of wear.)
Variants and Related Words
Dog-eared (adj): the more common spelling variant of "dog's eared".
- The dog-eared textbook was passed down through three siblings. (The book had bent corners from heavy use.)
Dog-ear (n): a folded corner of a page.
- He made a dog-ear on the page to mark the recipe. (He bent the corner of the page.)
Dog-ear (v): to fold down the corner of a page.
- She dog-eared the pages of the manual she needed to review. (She bent the corners intentionally.)
Synonyms
- Bent-cornered: having folded corners.
- Worn: showing signs of use, often with bent edges.
- Frayed: having edges that are worn or torn, but not necessarily folded.
Related Idioms
"To turn down a page": to fold the corner of a page as a marker (similar to dog's ear).
- She turned down the page to save her spot. (She bent the corner down.)
"A well-thumbed book": a book that has been read many times, often with dog's eared pages.
- The dictionary was well-thumbed and dog's eared. (It was frequently used and had bent corners.)