---
title: abstemious — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «abstemious» in the school dictionary: Abstemious means eating and drinking very little, especially not much rich food or alcohol; holding yourself back from pleasures. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# abstemious

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Abstemious, old monk, Grandad, She, Christians, He · **What happens:** mean, eat, drink, hold back, live, be · **To what, where:** rich food, little, yourself, pleasures, abstemious life, alcohol

<!-- .vabout -->
«abstemious» in the school dictionary: its meaning 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: [abstemious in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/abstemious.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Abstemious means eating and drinking very little, especially not much rich food or alcohol; holding yourself back from pleasures.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abstemious:m1:1
# text = Abstemious means eating and drinking very little, especially not much rich food or alcohol; holding yourself back from pleasures.
1	Abstemious	Abstemious	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	eating	eat	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	drinking	drink	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	conj	_	_
6	very	very	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
9	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
10	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
11	much	much	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	rich	rich	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	alcohol	alcohol	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
17	holding	hold	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
18	yourself	yourself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=2|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	17	obj	_	_
19	back	back	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
20	from	from	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
21	pleasures	pleasure	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Abstemious |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **eat** *not said to happen* | gerund | Abstemious *not said here* | rich food or alcohol |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **drink** | gerund | Abstemious *not said here* | little |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent little=Patient |
| 4 | **hold back** | gerund | Abstemious *not said here* | yourself |  | pleasures |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent yourself=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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The old monk lived an abstemious life of bread and water.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abstemious:x1:1
# text = The old monk lived an abstemious life of bread and water.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	monk	monk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	lived	live	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	abstemious	abstemious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	life	life	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	bread	bread	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** | past | the old monk | a abstemious life of bread and water |  |  |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V ADV»: agent=Theme life=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandad is abstemious and never drinks alcohol.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abstemious:x2:1
# text = Grandad is abstemious and never drinks alcohol.
1	Grandad	Grandad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	abstemious	abstemious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
5	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	6	advmod	_	_
6	drinks	drink	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
7	alcohol	alcohol	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Grandad |  |  |  |  | abstemious *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **drink** | present | Grandad *not said here* | alcohol |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent alcohol=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She was abstemious at the party and had only one small cake.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abstemious:x3:1
# text = She was abstemious at the party and had only one small cake.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	abstemious	abstemious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	party	party	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
9	only	only	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	12	nummod	_	_
11	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	cake	cake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | She |  |  | the party |  | abstemious *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **have** | past | She *not said here* | one small cake |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cake=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
During Lent some Christians are more abstemious and give up treats.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abstemious:x4:1
# text = During Lent some Christians are more abstemious and give up treats.
1	During	during	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	Lent	Lent	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
3	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	4	det	_	_
4	Christians	Christian	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
5	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	more	more	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	7	advmod	_	_
7	abstemious	abstemious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	give	give	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	_
10	up	up	ADP	RP	_	9	compound:prt	_	_
11	treats	treat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | some Christians |  |  |  | during Lent | abstemious *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **give up** | present | some Christians *not said here* | treats |  |  |  |  | vn resign-10.11-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent treat=Source |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The athlete kept to an abstemious diet before the race.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abstemious:x5:1
# text = The athlete kept to an abstemious diet before the race.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	athlete	athlete	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	kept	keep	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	abstemious	abstemious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	diet	diet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	before	before	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	race	race	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | participle |  | the athlete *not said here* |  | the race |  | to a abstemious diet | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent before race=Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He was too abstemious to have a second helping.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abstemious:x6:1
# text = He was too abstemious to have a second helping.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	too	too	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	abstemious	abstemious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	have	have	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	csubj	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	second	second	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	9	amod	_	_
9	helping	helping	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | He |  |  |  |  | abstemious *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **have** | to-infinitive |  | a second helping |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent helping=Patient |

<!-- div src -->

**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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