---
title: alchemist — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «alchemist» in the school dictionary: An alchemist was a person long ago, in the Middle Ages and before, who tried to turn ordinary metals like lead into gold and to find a medicine that would make people live for ever. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# alchemist

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** alchemist, Middle Ages, medicine, people, wizard, Alchemists · **What happens:** be, try, turn, find, make, live · **To what, where:** person, Middle Ages, ordinary metals, gold, medicine, people

<!-- .vabout -->
«alchemist» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [alchemist in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/alchemist.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An alchemist was a person long ago, in the Middle Ages and before, who tried to turn ordinary metals like lead into gold and to find a medicine that would make people live for ever.

<!-- fold The tree, 35 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alchemist:m1:1
# text = An alchemist was a person long ago, in the Middle Ages and before, who tried to turn ordinary metals like lead into gold and to find a medicine that would make people live for ever.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	alchemist	alchemist	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	long	long	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	7	advmod	_	_
7	ago	ago	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	Middle	Middle	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	12	flat	_	_
12	Ages	Age	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
14	before	before	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
16	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	17	nsubj	_	_
17	tried	try	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	conj	_	_
18	to	to	PART	TO	_	19	mark	_	_
19	turn	turn	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	17	xcomp	_	_
20	ordinary	ordinary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	21	amod	_	_
21	metals	metal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	obj	_	_
22	like	like	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
23	lead	lead	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obl	_	_
24	into	into	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
25	gold	gold	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obl	_	_
26	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	28	cc	_	_
27	to	to	PART	TO	_	28	mark	_	_
28	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	19	conj	_	_
29	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	30	det	_	_
30	medicine	medicine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	28	obj	_	_
31	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	33	nsubj	_	_
32	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	33	aux	_	_
33	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	30	acl:relcl	_	_
34	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	33	obj	_	_
35	live	live	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	33	xcomp	_	_
36	for	for	ADP	IN	_	37	case	_	_
37	ever	ever	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	35	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
38	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | a alchemist | a person |  |  | in the Middle Ages | ago *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **try** | past | the Middle Ages |  |  |  |  | before *property* | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **turn** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | the Middle Ages *not said here* | ordinary metals |  | gold |  | like lead | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP PP.trajectory»: agent=Agent metal=Theme into gold=Trajectory |
| 4 | **find** | to-infinitive | the Middle Ages *not said here* | a medicine |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent medicine=Topic |
| 5 | **make** | would | a medicine | people |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 6 | **live** | infinitive | people *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1-1 «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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In stories, an alchemist is a kind of wizard who mixes strange potions.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alchemist:m2:1
# text = In stories, an alchemist is a kind of wizard who mixes strange potions.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	stories	story	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	alchemist	alchemist	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	kind	kind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	wizard	wizard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	_
11	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	12	nsubj	_	_
12	mixes	mix	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	acl:relcl	_	_
13	strange	strange	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	potions	potion	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a alchemist | a kind |  | stories |  | of wizard | tree rules |
| 2 | **mix** | present | wizard | strange potions |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent potion=Patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Figuratively, an alchemist is someone who seems to turn ordinary things into something wonderful.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alchemist:m3:1
# text = Figuratively, an alchemist is someone who seems to turn ordinary things into something wonderful.
1	Figuratively	figuratively	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	alchemist	alchemist	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
7	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
8	seems	seem	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	turn	turn	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	xcomp	_	_
11	ordinary	ordinary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obj	_	_
13	into	into	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	10	obl	_	_
15	wonderful	wonderful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a alchemist | someone |  |  |  | figuratively *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **seem** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn seem-109-1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Theme clause=Attribute |
| 3 | **turn** | to-infinitive |  | ordinary things |  | something |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP PP.trajectory»: agent=Agent thing=Theme into something=Trajectory |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The alchemist tried to turn lead into gold.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alchemist:x1:1
# text = The alchemist tried to turn lead into gold.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	alchemist	alchemist	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	tried	try	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	turn	turn	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	lead	lead	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
7	into	into	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	gold	gold	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | past | the alchemist |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **turn** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | the alchemist *not said here* | lead |  | gold |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP PP.trajectory»: agent=Agent lead=Theme into gold=Trajectory |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Alchemists worked with bubbling pots and glass flasks.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alchemist:x2:1
# text = Alchemists worked with bubbling pots and glass flasks.
1	Alchemists	alchemist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	worked	work	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	with	with	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	bubbling	bubble	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	amod	_	_
5	pots	pot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	glass	glass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	flasks	flask	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **work** | past | Alchemists |  |  |  |  | with bubbling pots and glass flasks | vn cooperate-73.1-3 «NP V PP.co-agent PP.theme»: agent=Agent with pot=Co-Agent |
| 2 | **bubble** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn substance\_emission-43.4-1 «NP V»: agent=Source |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Isaac Newton also did experiments as an alchemist.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alchemist:x3:1
# text = Isaac Newton also did experiments as an alchemist.
1	Isaac	Isaac	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	Newton	Newton	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	flat	_	_
3	also	also	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	did	do	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	experiments	experiment	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
6	as	as	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	alchemist	alchemist	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | past | Isaac | experiments |  |  |  | as a alchemist | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent experiment=Eventuality |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
No alchemist ever really made gold.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alchemist:x4:1
# text = No alchemist ever really made gold.
1	No	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	2	det	_	_
2	alchemist	alchemist	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	ever	ever	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	5	advmod	_	_
4	really	really	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
6	gold	gold	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | participle | no alchemist *not said here* | gold |  |  | ever |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset gold=Product |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the game, the alchemist sells healing potions.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alchemist:x5:1
# text = In the game, the alchemist sells healing potions.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	alchemist	alchemist	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	sells	sell	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	healing	heal	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	xcomp	_	_
9	potions	potion	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sell** | present | the alchemist |  |  | the game |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **heal** | gerund | the alchemist *not said here* | potions |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent potion=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The chef is an alchemist with leftovers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alchemist:x6:1
# text = The chef is an alchemist with leftovers.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	chef	chef	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	alchemist	alchemist	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	leftovers	leftover	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	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** | present | the chef | a alchemist |  |  |  | with leftovers | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Chemistry grew out of the work of alchemists.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:alchemist:x7:1
# text = Chemistry grew out of the work of alchemists.
1	Chemistry	chemistry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	grew	grow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	out	out	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	alchemists	alchemist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grow out** | past | Chemistry | the work of alchemists |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location work=Theme |
| 2 | **work** |  | alchemists |  |  |  |  |  | nom work «act intransitive»: of=agent |

<!-- 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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