---
title: artful — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «artful» in the school dictionary: Artful means clever at getting what you want, especially by tricking people; crafty. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# artful

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Artful, you, Artful Dodger, fox, Toad, It · **What happens:** mean, get, want, trick, do, be · **To what, where:** people, clever young thief, hens, artful escape, artful way, extra pudding · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Artful means clever at getting what you want, especially by tricking people; crafty.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:artful:m1:1
# text = Artful means clever at getting what you want, especially by tricking people; crafty.
1	Artful	artful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	clever	clever	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
4	at	at	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
5	getting	get	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	ccomp	_	_
6	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	8	obj	_	_
7	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	want	want	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
11	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
12	tricking	trick	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	conj	_	_
13	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
15	crafty	crafty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Artful |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **get** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V how S\_INF»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 3 | **want** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot what=Theme |
| 4 | **trick** | gerund |  | people |  |  |  | especially *property* | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent people=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 -->
Artful can mean done with skill and cleverness.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:artful:m2:1
# text = Artful can mean done with skill and cleverness.
1	Artful	artful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	done	do	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	xcomp	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	skill	skill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	cleverness	cleverness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can | Artful |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **do** *not said to happen* | participle | Artful *not said here* |  |  |  |  | with skill and cleverness | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Artful Dodger was a clever young thief.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:artful:x1:1
# text = The Artful Dodger was a clever young thief.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	Artful	artful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	Dodger	Dodger	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
6	clever	clever	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
7	young	young	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	thief	thief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the Artful Dodger | a clever young thief |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The fox was artful and fooled the hens.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:artful:x2:1
# text = The fox was artful and fooled the hens.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fox	fox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	artful	artful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	fooled	fool	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	hens	hen	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the fox |  |  |  |  | artful *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **fool** | past | the fox *not said here* | the hens |  |  |  |  | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hen=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Toad made an artful escape dressed as a washerwoman.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:artful:x3:1
# text = Toad made an artful escape dressed as a washerwoman.
1	Toad	Toad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	artful	artful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	escape	escape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	dressed	dress	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	_
7	as	as	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	washerwoman	washerwoman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | Toad | a artful escape |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent escape=Product |
| 2 | **dress** | participle |  | a artful escape *not said here* |  |  |  | as a washerwoman | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It was an artful way to get extra pudding.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:artful:x4:1
# text = It was an artful way to get extra pudding.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	artful	artful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl	_	_
8	extra	extra	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	pudding	pudding	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | It | a artful way |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **get** | to-infinitive |  | extra pudding |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer pudding=Stimulus |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She made an artful arrangement of flowers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:artful:x5:1
# text = She made an artful arrangement of flowers.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	artful	artful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	arrangement	arrangement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	flowers	flower	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | She | a artful arrangement of flowers |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent arrangement=Product |
| 2 | **arrange** |  |  | flowers |  |  |  |  | nom arrangement «cognition transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't trust him — he's very artful.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:artful:x6:1
# text = Don't trust him — he's very artful.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	trust	trust	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
6	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	very	very	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	artful	artful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **trust** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | him *= he* |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent he=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present | he |  |  |  |  | artful *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
“Then do try,” said the artful hare, “and I will count the number from here!”

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:artful:x7:1
# text = “Then do try,” said the artful hare, “and I will count the number from here!”
1	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	4	advmod	_	_
3	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	try	try	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	ccomp	_	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	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	artful	artful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	hare	hare	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
12	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
14	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	16	nsubj	_	_
15	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	16	aux	_	_
16	count	count	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	parataxis	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obj	_	_
19	from	from	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
20	here	here	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	16	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	16	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** *in a quote* | present · do-support |  |  |  |  | then |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **say** *speech: express* | past | the artful hare |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **count** *in a quote* | future | the artful hare *= hare* | the number |  |  |  |  | vn multiply-108 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent number=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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