---
title: anvil — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «anvil» in the school dictionary: A heavy iron block with a flat top on which a blacksmith hammers hot metal into shape. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# anvil

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** blacksmith, tiny bone, Clang, anvil, storm cloud, you · **What happens:** hammer, call, spread, go, be, bring · **To what, where:** hot metal, heavy iron block, incus, red hot horseshoe, hammer, anvil · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A heavy iron block with a flat top on which a blacksmith hammers hot metal into shape.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:anvil:m1:1
# text = A heavy iron block with a flat top on which a blacksmith hammers hot metal into shape.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	heavy	heavy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	iron	iron	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	block	block	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	flat	flat	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	top	top	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
9	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	13	obl	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	blacksmith	blacksmith	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
13	hammers	hammer	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	parataxis	_	_
14	hot	hot	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	metal	metal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	_
16	into	into	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	shape	shape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hammer** | present | a blacksmith | hot metal |  | a heavy iron block with a flat top |  | into shape *result* | vn hit-18.1-1 «NP V NP PP.result»: agent=Agent metal=Patient into shape=Result |

<!-- .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 -->
A tiny bone in the middle ear, also called the incus.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:anvil:m2:1
# text = A tiny bone in the middle ear, also called the incus.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	bone	bone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	middle	middle	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	ear	ear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	also	also	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	incus	incus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | participle | a tiny bone in the middle ear *not said here* | the incus |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The flat, spreading top of a big thundercloud.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:anvil:m3:1
# text = The flat, spreading top of a big thundercloud.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
2	flat	flat	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	spreading	spread	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	amod	_	_
5	top	top	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	thundercloud	thundercloud	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spread** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The blacksmith hammered the red-hot horseshoe on the anvil.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:anvil:x1:1
# text = The blacksmith hammered the red-hot horseshoe on the anvil.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	blacksmith	blacksmith	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	hammered	hammer	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
5	red	red	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	hot	hot	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	horseshoe	horseshoe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
9	on	on	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	anvil	anvil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hammer** | past | the blacksmith | the red hot horseshoe |  |  |  | on the anvil | vn hit-18.1-1 «NP V NP PP»: agent=Agent horseshoe=Instrument on anvil=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Clang! went the hammer on the anvil.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:anvil:x2:1
# text = Clang! went the hammer on the anvil.
1	Clang	clang	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
3	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	hammer	hammer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	anvil	anvil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | past | Clang | the hammer |  | the anvil |  |  | vn meander-47.7 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location hammer=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The anvil is one of the three tiny bones in your ear.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:anvil:x3:1
# text = The anvil is one of the three tiny bones in your ear.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	anvil	anvil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
7	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
8	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	bones	bone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	ear	ear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	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 | the anvil | one |  |  |  | of the three tiny bones in your ear | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A storm cloud with an anvil top can bring thunder and hail.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:anvil:x4:1
# text = A storm cloud with an anvil top can bring thunder and hail.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	storm	storm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	cloud	cloud	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	anvil	anvil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	top	top	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
8	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	bring	bring	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
10	thunder	thunder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	hail	hail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **bring** | can | a storm cloud with a anvil top | thunder and hail |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3-1 «NP V NP together»: agent=Agent thunder=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the cartoon an anvil fell on the coyote.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:anvil:x5:1
# text = In the cartoon an anvil fell on the coyote.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	cartoon	cartoon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	anvil	anvil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	fell	fall	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	coyote	coyote	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fall** | past | a anvil |  |  | the cartoon |  | on the coyote | vn occur-48.3 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme in cartoon=Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An anvil is so heavy that it doesn't move when you hit it.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:anvil:x6:1
# text = An anvil is so heavy that it doesn't move when you hit it.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	anvil	anvil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	so	so	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	heavy	heavy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
8	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
10	move	move	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	advcl	_	_
11	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	13	mark	_	_
12	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
13	hit	hit	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	advcl	_	_
14	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a anvil |  |  |  |  | heavy *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **move** | present · do-support | anvil |  |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **hit** | present | you | anvil |  |  |  |  | vn contiguous\_location-47.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme it=Co-Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Cursed be the smith who forged it, and the anvil on which it was wrought!’

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:anvil:x7:1
# text = Cursed be the smith who forged it, and the anvil on which it was wrought!’
1	Cursed	curse	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	amod	_	_
2	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	smith	smith	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	forged	forge	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	anvil	anvil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	parataxis	_	_
12	on	on	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	16	obl	_	_
14	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	16	nsubj	_	_
15	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	16	cop	_	_
16	wrought	wrought	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	’	'	PUNCT	''	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **curse** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | imperative | you *not said here* | the Cursed smith |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **forge** | past | the Cursed smith | smith |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Product |
| 4 | **is** | past | smith |  |  | the anvil |  | wrought *property* | tree rules |

<!-- 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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