---
title: abracadabra — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «abracadabra» in the school dictionary: Abracadabra is a magic word said by magicians when they do a trick, as if it makes the magic happen. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# abracadabra

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Abracadabra, magicians, trick, magic, words, coin · **What happens:** be, say, do, make, happen, mean · **To what, where:** magic word, trick, magic, words, sense, wand · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«abracadabra» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 6 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [abracadabra in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/abracadabra.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Abracadabra is a magic word said by magicians when they do a trick, as if it makes the magic happen.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abracadabra:m1:1
# text = Abracadabra is a magic word said by magicians when they do a trick, as if it makes the magic happen.
1	Abracadabra	Abracadabra	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	magic	magic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	said	say	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	_
7	by	by	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	magicians	magician	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	_
9	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	11	advmod	_	_
10	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
11	do	do	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	ccomp	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	trick	trick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
15	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	18	mark	_	_
16	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	15	fixed	_	_
17	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	18	nsubj	_	_
18	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	conj	_	_
19	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	magic	magic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obj	_	_
21	happen	happen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	18	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Abracadabra | a magic word |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | participle |  | a magic word *not said here* |  |  |  | by magicians | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **do** | present | magicians *= magician* | a trick |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent trick=Eventuality |
| 4 | **make** | present | trick | the magic |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **happen** | infinitive | the magic *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: informal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Abracadabra also means words that sound clever or mysterious but make no sense.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abracadabra:m2:1
# text = Abracadabra also means words that sound clever or mysterious but make no sense.
1	Abracadabra	Abracadabra	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	also	also	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	sound	sound	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
7	clever	clever	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	mysterious	mysterious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	conj	_	_
10	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	make	make	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
12	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	13	det	_	_
13	sense	sense	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Abracadabra | words |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent word=Topic |
| 2 | **sound** | present | words |  |  |  |  | clever *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 3 | **make** | present | words *not said here* | no sense |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset sense=Product |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Abracadabra!» said the magician, and the coin vanished.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abracadabra:x1:1
# text = «Abracadabra!» said the magician, and the coin vanished.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Abracadabra	Abracadabra	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
5	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	magician	magician	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	coin	coin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
12	vanished	vanish	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | Abracadabra |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **vanish** | past | the coin |  |  |  |  |  | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My little sister waved her wand and shouted «Abracadabra!»

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abracadabra:x2:1
# text = My little sister waved her wand and shouted «Abracadabra!»
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	sister	sister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	waved	wave	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	wand	wand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	shouted	shout	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
9	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	Abracadabra	Abracadabra	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wave** | past | My little sister | sister's wand |  |  |  |  | vn wink-40.3.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent wand=Patient |
| 2 | **shout** *speech: express* | past | My little sister *not said here* | Abracadabra |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent abracadabra=Topic |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
At the party the magician pulled a rabbit from his hat after saying abracadabra.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abracadabra:x3:1
# text = At the party the magician pulled a rabbit from his hat after saying abracadabra.
1	At	at	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	party	party	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	magician	magician	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	pulled	pull	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	rabbit	rabbit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	from	from	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	hat	hat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
12	after	after	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
13	saying	say	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	advcl	_	_
14	abracadabra	abracadabra	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pull** | past | the magician | a rabbit |  | the party |  | from magician's hat | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP PP.source NP.asset»: agent=Agent rabbit=Theme at party=Asset from hat=Source |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | gerund | the magician *not said here* | abracadabra |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent abracadabra=Topic |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Long ago, people wrote abracadabra on charms to keep sickness away.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abracadabra:x4:1
# text = Long ago, people wrote abracadabra on charms to keep sickness away.
1	Long	long	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	2	advmod	_	_
2	ago	ago	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
5	wrote	write	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	abracadabra	abracadabra	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	charms	charm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	advcl	_	_
11	sickness	sickness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
12	away	away	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | past | people | abracadabra |  | charms |  | ago *property* | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent abracadabra=Theme on charm=Destination |
| 2 | **keep away** | to-infinitive | people *not said here* | sickness |  |  |  | away *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sickness=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The instructions were pure abracadabra to Grandad.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abracadabra:x5:1
# text = The instructions were pure abracadabra to Grandad.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	instructions	instruction	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	pure	pure	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	abracadabra	abracadabra	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	Grandad	Grandad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the instructions | pure abracadabra | Grandad |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Saying abracadabra didn't make my homework disappear!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abracadabra:x6:1
# text = Saying abracadabra didn't make my homework disappear!
1	Saying	say	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	csubj	_	_
2	abracadabra	abracadabra	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
3	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	homework	homework	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	disappear	disappear	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | gerund |  | abracadabra |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent abracadabra=Topic |
| 2 | **not** **make** | past · do-support | Saying | my homework |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **not** **disappear** | infinitive | my homework *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

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**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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