---
title: assassinate — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «assassinate» in the school dictionary: To assassinate is to murder an important or famous person, such as a leader, usually for political reasons. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/assassinate/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [A](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/) / assassinate

# assassinate

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** history book, Guards, one, plot, senators, Police · **What happens:** assassinate, be, tell, protect, fail, stop · **To what, where:** president, king, leader, Julius, play, man · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To assassinate is to murder an important or famous person, such as a leader, usually for political reasons.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:assassinate:m1:1
# text = To assassinate is to murder an important or famous person, such as a leader, usually for political reasons.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	assassinate	assassinate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	murder	murder	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
7	important	important	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	famous	famous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	conj	_	_
10	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
12	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	15	case	_	_
13	as	as	ADP	IN	_	12	fixed	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	leader	leader	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
17	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	20	advmod	_	_
18	for	for	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	political	political	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
20	reasons	reason	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **assassinate** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn murder-42.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | murder *property* | tree rules |

<!-- .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 history book tells how a president was assassinated.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:assassinate:x1:1
# text = The history book tells how a president was assassinated.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	history	history	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	tells	tell	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	9	advmod	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	president	president	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj:pass	_	_
8	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux:pass	_	_
9	assassinated	assassinate	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | present | the history book |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **assassinate** | past · passive |  | a president |  |  |  |  | vn murder-42.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Guards protect the king so no one can assassinate him.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:assassinate:x2:1
# text = Guards protect the king so no one can assassinate him.
1	Guards	guard	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	protect	protect	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	king	king	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	so	so	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
6	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	7	det	_	_
7	one	one	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
8	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	assassinate	assassinate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
10	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **protect** | present | Guards |  | the king |  |  |  | vn defend-72.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent king=Beneficiary |
| 2 | **assassinate** | can | no one | king |  |  |  |  | vn murder-42.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent he=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The plot to assassinate the leader failed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:assassinate:x3:1
# text = The plot to assassinate the leader failed.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	plot	plot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	assassinate	assassinate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	acl	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	leader	leader	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	failed	fail	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **assassinate** | to-infinitive | the plot *not said here* | the leader |  |  |  |  | vn murder-42.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent leader=Patient |
| 2 | **fail** | past | the plot |  |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the play, the senators assassinate Julius Caesar.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:assassinate:x4:1
# text = In the play, the senators assassinate Julius Caesar.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	play	play	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	senators	senator	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
7	assassinate	assassinate	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	Julius	Julius	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
9	Caesar	Caesar	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **assassinate** | present | the senators | Julius |  | the play |  |  | vn murder-42.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent julius=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Police stopped a man who planned to assassinate the minister.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:assassinate:x5:1
# text = Police stopped a man who planned to assassinate the minister.
1	Police	police	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	stopped	stop	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	planned	plan	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	assassinate	assassinate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	minister	minister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | past | Police | a man |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality man=Eventuality |
| 2 | **plan** | past | a man |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **assassinate** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | a man *not said here* | the minister |  |  |  |  | vn murder-42.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent minister=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The world was shocked when the leader was assassinated.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:assassinate:x6:1
# text = The world was shocked when the leader was assassinated.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	world	world	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	shocked	shocked	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	9	mark	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	leader	leader	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj:pass	_	_
8	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux:pass	_	_
9	assassinated	assassinate	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the world |  |  |  |  | shocked *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **assassinate** | past · passive |  | the leader |  |  |  |  | vn murder-42.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The physician, Douban, wishes to assassinate you.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:assassinate:x7:1
# text = The physician, Douban, wishes to assassinate you.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	physician	physician	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	Douban	Douban	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
6	wishes	wish	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	assassinate	assassinate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	ccomp	_	_
9	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wish** | present | the physician |  |  |  |  |  | vn wish-62 «NP V for NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 2 | **assassinate** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | you |  |  |  |  | vn murder-42.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent you=Patient |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [assassin](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/assassin/)
- next →: [assassination](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/assassination/)
- ↑ back to [A in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/)