---
title: angel — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «angel» in the school dictionary: An angel is a spirit that Christians, Jews and Muslims believe serves God and brings messages from him; in pictures angels often have wings and white clothes. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# angel

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** angel, Christians, angels, You, Little angel, I · **What happens:** be, believe, bring, have, mean, behave · **To what, where:** spirit, messages, wings, pictures, kind person, behaved child · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«angel» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [angel in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/angel.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An angel is a spirit that Christians, Jews and Muslims believe serves God and brings messages from him; in pictures angels often have wings and white clothes.

<!-- fold The tree, 27 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:angel:m1:1
# text = An angel is a spirit that Christians, Jews and Muslims believe serves God and brings messages from him; in pictures angels often have wings and white clothes.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	angel	angel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	spirit	spirit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	12	obj	_	_
7	Christians	Christian	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	12	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	Jews	Jew	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	7	conj	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	Muslims	Muslim	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	7	conj	_	_
12	believe	believe	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
13	serves	serve	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obj	_	_
14	God	God	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	12	vocative	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	brings	bring	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	conj	_	_
17	messages	message	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	obj	_	_
18	from	from	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	25	punct	_	_
21	in	in	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
22	pictures	picture	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	25	obl	_	_
23	angels	angel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	25	nsubj	_	_
24	often	often	ADV	RB	_	25	advmod	_	_
25	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	conj	_	_
26	wings	wing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	25	obj	_	_
27	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	29	cc	_	_
28	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	29	amod	_	_
29	clothes	clothes	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan	26	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a angel | a spirit |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **believe** | present | Christians and Jews and Muslims | a spirit |  |  |  | God *vocative* | vn conjecture-29.5-1 «NP V NP to be NP»: agent=Agent that=Theme serve=Eventuality |
| 3 | **bring** | present | Christians and Jews and Muslims *not said here* | messages |  |  |  | from angel | vn bring-11.3-1 «NP V NP PP.initial\_location»: agent=Agent message=Theme from he=Initial\_Location |
| 4 | **have** | present | angels | wings and white clothes |  | pictures |  | often *property* | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent wing=Patient |

<!-- .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 -->
An angel is a very kind, good or helpful person, as in "You're an angel!".

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:angel:m2:1
# text = An angel is a very kind, good or helpful person, as in "You're an angel!".
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	angel	angel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
5	very	very	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	kind	kind	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	conj	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	helpful	helpful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	conj	_	_
11	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
13	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	19	mark	_	_
14	in	in	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
15	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	19	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	're	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	19	cop	_	_
18	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	angel	angel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a angel | a kind person |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** *in a quote* | present | You |  |  |  |  | in a angel | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Little angel" can mean a well-behaved child — or, joking, a naughty one.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:angel:m3:1
# text = "Little angel" can mean a well-behaved child — or, joking, a naughty one.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	angel	angel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
5	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
8	well	well	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	10	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	behaved	behave	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	11	amod	_	_
11	child	child	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
12	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	15	punct	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
15	joking	joke	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
18	naughty	naughty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	one	one	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can | Little angel | a behaved child |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent child=Topic |
| 2 | **behave** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | well *property* | vn masquerade-29.6-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **joke** *speech: other* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn chit\_chat-37.6 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The angel Gabriel visited Mary in Nazareth.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:angel:x1:1
# text = The angel Gabriel visited Mary in Nazareth.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	angel	angel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	Gabriel	Gabriel	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	_
4	visited	visit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	Mary	Mary	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	Nazareth	Nazareth	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **visit** | past | the angel | Mary |  | Nazareth |  |  | vn meet-36.3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent mary=Co-Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I was an angel in the nativity play, with tinsel on my head.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:angel:x2:1
# text = I was an angel in the nativity play, with tinsel on my head.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	angel	angel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	nativity	nativity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	play	play	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	tinsel	tinsel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
12	on	on	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	14	nmod:poss	_	_
14	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | I | a angel and tinsel on my head |  | the nativity play |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Be an angel and pass me the salt.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:angel:x3:1
# text = Be an angel and pass me the salt.
1	Be	be	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
2	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	angel	angel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nsubj	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	pass	pass	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	conj	_	_
6	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	obj	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	salt	salt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | infinitive | a angel |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **pass** | infinitive | a angel *not said here* | the salt | me |  |  |  | vn give-13.1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent i=Recipient salt=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The nurse was an angel to Grandpa.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:angel:x4:1
# text = The nurse was an angel to Grandpa.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	nurse	nurse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	angel	angel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	Grandpa	Grandpa	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 nurse | a angel | Grandpa |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We put a gold angel on top of the Christmas tree.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:angel:x5:1
# text = We put a gold angel on top of the Christmas tree.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	put	put	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	gold	gold	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	angel	angel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	top	top	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	Christmas	Christmas	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **put** | past | We | a gold angel |  | top of the Christmas tree |  |  | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V PP.destination NP»: agent=Agent angel=Theme on top=Destination |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some people believe they have a guardian angel.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:angel:x6:1
# text = Some people believe they have a guardian angel.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	believe	believe	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	guardian	guardian	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	angel	angel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **believe** | present | some people |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 2 | **have** | present | people | a guardian angel |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent angel=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"My little angel," said Mum, as I drew on the wall.

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:angel:x7:1
# text = "My little angel," said Mum, as I drew on the wall.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
3	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	angel	angel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
7	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	Mum	Mum	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
11	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
12	drew	draw	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	_
13	on	on	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	wall	wall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | My little angel |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **draw** | past | I |  |  | the wall |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent on wall=Destination |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
And as they flew the angel related the history.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:angel:x8:1
# text = And as they flew the angel related the history.
1	And	and	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
2	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
3	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	flew	fly	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	angel	angel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	related	relate	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	ccomp	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	history	history	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fly** | past | they |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **relate** | past | the angel | the history |  |  |  |  | vn involve-107.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent history=Theme |

<!-- 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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