---
title: ahimsa — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «ahimsa» in the school dictionary: Ahimsa is the idea of not harming any living thing, in thought, word or action; it is an important teaching in Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# ahimsa

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Ahimsa, idea, thing, many Jains, Gandhi, monks · **What happens:** be, not harm, work, mean, do, not eat · **To what, where:** idea, living thing, thought, important teaching, Hinduism, harm

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ahimsa is the idea of not harming any living thing, in thought, word or action; it is an important teaching in Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ahimsa:m1:1
# text = Ahimsa is the idea of not harming any living thing, in thought, word or action; it is an important teaching in Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.
1	Ahimsa	Ahimsa	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
7	harming	harm	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	acl	_	_
8	any	any	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	10	det	_	_
9	living	living	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	thought	thought	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
15	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	action	action	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	23	punct	_	_
19	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	23	nsubj	_	_
20	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	23	cop	_	_
21	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
22	important	important	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	23	amod	_	_
23	teaching	teaching	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
24	in	in	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
25	Hinduism	Hinduism	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	23	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	27	punct	_	_
27	Jainism	Jainism	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	23	appos	_	_
28	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	29	cc	_	_
29	Buddhism	Buddhism	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	27	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Ahimsa | the idea and a important teaching |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **harm** | gerund | the idea and a important teaching *not said here* | any living thing |  | thought and word or action |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus thing=Experiencer |
| 3 | **is a** | present | thing | a important teaching |  | Hinduism |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .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 -->
Non-violence as a way of life and of working for change.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ahimsa:m2:1
# text = Non-violence as a way of life and of working for change.
1	Non-violence	non-violence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
2	as	as	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	life	life	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
9	working	work	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	conj	_	_
10	for	for	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	change	change	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **work** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | for change | vn employment-95.3 «NP V PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent for change=Beneficiary |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ahimsa means doing no harm to any living thing.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ahimsa:x1:1
# text = Ahimsa means doing no harm to any living thing.
1	Ahimsa	Ahimsa	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	doing	do	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	5	det	_	_
5	harm	harm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	any	any	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	9	det	_	_
8	living	living	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Ahimsa |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **do** *not said to happen* | gerund | Ahimsa *not said here* | no harm |  |  |  | to any living thing | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent harm=Eventuality |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Because of ahimsa, many Jains do not eat meat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ahimsa:x2:1
# text = Because of ahimsa, many Jains do not eat meat.
1	Because	because	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADP	3	case	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	1	fixed	_	_
3	ahimsa	ahimsa	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	Jains	Jain	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
7	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
8	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
9	eat	eat	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
10	meat	meat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **eat** | present · do-support | many Jains | meat |  |  |  | because ahimsa | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent meat=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Gandhi used ahimsa to protest peacefully.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ahimsa:x3:1
# text = Gandhi used ahimsa to protest peacefully.
1	Gandhi	Gandhi	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	ahimsa	ahimsa	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	protest	protest	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
6	peacefully	peacefully	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past | Gandhi | ahimsa |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent ahimsa=Patient |
| 2 | **protest** *speech: disagree* | to-infinitive | Gandhi *not said here* |  |  |  |  | peacefully *property* | vn rebel-71.2-2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some monks walk carefully to avoid hurting insects, following ahimsa.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ahimsa:x4:1
# text = Some monks walk carefully to avoid hurting insects, following ahimsa.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	monks	monk	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	walk	walk	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	carefully	carefully	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	avoid	avoid	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
7	hurting	hurt	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	xcomp	_	_
8	insects	insect	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	following	follow	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	conj	_	_
11	ahimsa	ahimsa	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **walk** | present | some monks |  |  |  |  | carefully *property* | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **avoid** | to-infinitive | some monks *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn avoid-52 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 3 | **hurt** | gerund | some monks *not said here* | insects |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer insect=Patient |
| 4 | **follow** | gerund | some monks *not said here* | ahimsa |  |  |  |  | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent ahimsa=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our class talked about how ahimsa is like being kind to animals.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ahimsa:x5:1
# text = Our class talked about how ahimsa is like being kind to animals.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	talked	talk	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	about	about	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
5	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	10	advmod	_	_
6	ahimsa	ahimsa	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
8	like	like	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
9	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	10	cop	_	_
10	kind	kind	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	ccomp	_	_
11	to	to	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **talk** | past | Our class |  |  |  |  |  | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present | ahimsa |  |  |  |  | to animals; kind *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ahimsa is a word from Sanskrit, an old language of India.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ahimsa:x6:1
# text = Ahimsa is a word from Sanskrit, an old language of India.
1	Ahimsa	Ahimsa	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	Sanskrit	Sanskrit	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	language	language	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	appos	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	India	India	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Ahimsa | a word |  | Sanskrit |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Buddhists, Hindus and Jains all value ahimsa.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ahimsa:x7:1
# text = Buddhists, Hindus and Jains all value ahimsa.
1	Buddhists	buddhist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
3	Hindus	Hindu	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	1	nmod	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	Jains	Jain	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	3	conj	_	_
6	all	all	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	value	value	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	ahimsa	ahimsa	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **value** | present | Buddhists  Hindus and Jains | ahimsa |  |  |  | all *property* | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer ahimsa=Stimulus |

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