---
title: assailant — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «assailant» in the school dictionary: An assailant is a person who attacks someone physically. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# assailant

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** assailant, person, police, victim, shopkeeper, Witnesses · **What happens:** be, attack, run off, arrive, not see, search · **To what, where:** person, someone, face, assailant, two assailants, animals

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: formal, news and police — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An assailant is a person who attacks someone physically.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:assailant:m1:1
# text = An assailant is a person who attacks someone physically.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	assailant	assailant	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	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	attacks	attack	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	obj	_	_
9	physically	physically	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a assailant | a person |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **attack** | present | a person | someone |  |  |  | physically *property* | vn attack-60.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent someone=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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The assailant ran off before the police arrived.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:assailant:x1:1
# text = The assailant ran off before the police arrived.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	assailant	assailant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	ran	run	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	off	off	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	police	police	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
8	arrived	arrive	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **run off** | past | the assailant |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **arrive** | past | the police |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The victim could not see the assailant's face.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:assailant:x2:1
# text = The victim could not see the assailant's face.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	victim	victim	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	see	see	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	assailant	assailant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	's	PART	POS	_	7	case	_	_
9	face	face	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **see** | could | the victim | the assailant's face |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer face=Stimulus |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Police are searching for the assailant.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:assailant:x3:1
# text = Police are searching for the assailant.
1	Police	police	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	searching	search	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	assailant	assailant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **search** | present · progressive | Police |  |  |  |  | for the assailant | vn search-35.2 «NP V PP.theme NP.location»: agent=Agent for assailant=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The shopkeeper fought off his assailant.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:assailant:x4:1
# text = The shopkeeper fought off his assailant.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	shopkeeper	shopkeeper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	fought	fight	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	off	off	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	assailant	assailant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fight off** | past | the shopkeeper | shopkeeper's assailant |  |  |  |  | vn battle-36.4-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent assailant=Co-Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The two assailants were later arrested.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:assailant:x5:1
# text = The two assailants were later arrested.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	3	nummod	_	_
3	assailants	assailant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux:pass	_	_
5	later	late	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	6	advmod	_	_
6	arrested	arrest	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **arrest** | past · passive |  | the two assailants |  |  |  | late *property* | vn prosecute-33.2-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Witnesses described the assailant as tall with a red hat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:assailant:x6:1
# text = Witnesses described the assailant as tall with a red hat.
1	Witnesses	witness	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	described	describe	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	assailant	assailant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	as	as	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	tall	tall	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	obl	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	red	red	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	hat	hat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **describe** | past | Witnesses | the assailant |  |  |  | as tall; with a red hat | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent assailant=Theme as tall=Attribute |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He now gave the animals in charge of his friend Abderus, and made such a furious onslaught on his assailants that they turned and fled.

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:assailant:x7:1
# text = He now gave the animals in charge of his friend Abderus, and made such a furious onslaught on his assailants that they turned and fled.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	now	now	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	3	advmod	_	_
3	gave	give	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	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	charge	charge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	friend	friend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
11	Abderus	Abderus	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
15	such	such	DET	PDT	PronType=Ind	18	det:predet	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
17	furious	furious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	onslaught	onslaught	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	_
19	on	on	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
20	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	21	nmod:poss	_	_
21	assailants	assailant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	obl	_	_
22	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	24	mark	_	_
23	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	24	nsubj	_	_
24	turned	turn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	14	advcl	_	_
25	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	26	cc	_	_
26	fled	flee	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	24	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | He | the animals |  | charge of his friend | now |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent animal=Theme |
| 2 | **make** | past | He *not said here* | such furious onslaught |  | Abderus's assailants |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset onslaught=Product |
| 3 | **turn** | past | animals *= animal* |  |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **flee** | past | animals *= animal* *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 5 | **charge** |  |  | his friend |  |  |  |  | nom charge «act transitive»: of=patient |

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**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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