---
title: absurd — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «absurd» in the school dictionary: Very silly and not making sense; ridiculous. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# absurd

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** unreasonable, It, riddle, Mad Hatter, price, Alice · **What happens:** not make, be, wear, have, riddle, think · **To what, where:** sense, coat, heat, absurd answer, 3 buses, 2.5 buses · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«absurd» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 7 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: [absurd in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/absurd.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Very silly and not making sense; ridiculous.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:absurd:m1:1
# text = Very silly and not making sense; ridiculous.
1	Very	very	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	silly	silly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
4	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	making	make	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	conj	_	_
6	sense	sense	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
8	ridiculous	ridiculous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **make** | gerund |  | sense |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset sense=Product |

<!-- .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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
So unreasonable it is laughable: «an absurd price».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:absurd:m2:1
# text = So unreasonable it is laughable: «an absurd price».
1	So	so	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
2	unreasonable	unreasonable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	nsubj	_	_
3	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	laughable	laughable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
7	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	absurd	absurd	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	price	price	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | unreasonable |  |  |  |  | laughable *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It's absurd to wear a coat in this heat!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:absurd:x1:1
# text = It's absurd to wear a coat in this heat!
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	absurd	absurd	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	wear	wear	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	coat	coat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	10	det	_	_
10	heat	heat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | It |  |  |  |  | absurd *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **wear** | to-infinitive |  | a coat |  | this heat |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent coat=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Mad Hatter's riddle had an absurd answer – or none at all.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:absurd:x2:1
# text = The Mad Hatter's riddle had an absurd answer – or none at all.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	Mad	mad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	Hatter	Hatter	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	's	's	PART	POS	_	3	case	_	_
5	riddle	riddle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	absurd	absurd	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
10	–	-	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	none	none	PRON	NN	PronType=Neg	6	conj	_	_
13	at	at	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	12	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the Mad Hatter's riddle | a absurd answer |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent answer=Patient |
| 2 | **riddle** |  | the Mad Hatter |  |  |  |  |  | nom riddle «communication intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The price of the toy was absurd.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:absurd:x3:1
# text = The price of the toy was absurd.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	price	price	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	toy	toy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	absurd	absurd	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the price of the toy |  |  |  |  | absurd *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Alice thought the whole trial was absurd.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:absurd:x4:1
# text = Alice thought the whole trial was absurd.
1	Alice	Alice	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	thought	think	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	whole	whole	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	trial	trial	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	absurd	absurd	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **think** *speech: other* | past | Alice |  |  |  |  |  | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | past | the whole trial |  |  |  |  | absurd *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An answer of 2.5 buses is absurd – we need 3 buses.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:absurd:x5:1
# text = An answer of 2.5 buses is absurd – we need 3 buses.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	2.5	2.5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	buses	bus	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	absurd	absurd	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
8	–	-	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
9	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	need	need	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	parataxis	_	_
11	3	3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	12	nummod	_	_
12	buses	bus	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a answer of 2.5 buses |  |  |  |  | absurd *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **need** | present | we | 3 buses |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot bus=Theme |
| 3 | **answer** |  |  | 2.5 buses |  |  |  |  | nom answer «communication transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His excuse was so absurd that everyone laughed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:absurd:x6:1
# text = His excuse was so absurd that everyone laughed.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	excuse	excuse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	so	so	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	absurd	absurd	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
7	everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	8	nsubj	_	_
8	laughed	laugh	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | His excuse |  |  |  |  | absurd *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **laugh** | past | everyone |  |  |  |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **excuse** |  | His *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom excuse «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"What an absurd idea," said the hen.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:absurd:x7:1
# text = "What an absurd idea," said the hen.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	What	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	5	nsubj	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	absurd	absurd	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
8	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	hen	hen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **idea** *in a quote* |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | a absurd idea |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

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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.

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