---
title: avert — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «avert» in the school dictionary: To avert something bad means to stop it from happening, as in «avert a disaster». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# avert

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** something, driver, She, Talks, He, teacher · **What happens:** avert, mean, stop, happen, look away, be · **To what, where:** something, it, disaster, eyes, crash, scary scene · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«avert» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [avert in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/avert.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To avert something bad means to stop it from happening, as in «avert a disaster».

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:avert:m1:1
# text = To avert something bad means to stop it from happening, as in «avert a disaster».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	avert	avert	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	stop	stop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	ccomp	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	from	from	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
10	happening	happen	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
12	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	fixed	_	_
14	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	avert	avert	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	conj	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	disaster	disaster	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **avert** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **stop** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | it |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality it=Eventuality |
| 4 | **happen** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 5 | **avert** *in a quote* | infinitive |  | a disaster |  |  |  |  | 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.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To avert your eyes means to look away, often because something is upsetting or embarrassing.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:avert:m2:1
# text = To avert your eyes means to look away, often because something is upsetting or embarrassing.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	avert	avert	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
3	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	eyes	eye	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	look	look	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	away	away	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
10	often	often	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
11	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
12	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	14	nsubj	_	_
13	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	cop	_	_
14	upsetting	upsetting	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	parataxis	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	embarrassing	embarrassing	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **avert** | to-infinitive |  | your eyes |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **look away** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | away *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 4 | **is** | present | something |  |  |  |  | often, upsetting *property* | tree rules |
| 5 | **be** |  | something *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The driver braked hard and averted a crash.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:avert:x1:1
# text = The driver braked hard and averted a crash.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	driver	driver	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	braked	brake	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	hard	hard	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	3	advmod	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	averted	avert	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	crash	crash	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **brake** | past | the driver |  |  |  |  | hard *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **avert** | past | the driver *not said here* | a crash |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Quick thinking averted disaster.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:avert:x2:1
# text = Quick thinking averted disaster.
1	Quick	quick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	thinking	thinking	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	averted	avert	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	amod	_	_
4	disaster	disaster	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **avert** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She averted her eyes from the scary scene.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:avert:x3:1
# text = She averted her eyes from the scary scene.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	averted	avert	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	eyes	eye	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	scary	scary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	scene	scene	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **avert** | past | She | her eyes |  | the scary scene |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Talks between the leaders averted a war.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:avert:x4:1
# text = Talks between the leaders averted a war.
1	Talks	talk	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
2	between	between	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	leaders	leader	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	nmod	_	_
5	averted	avert	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	war	war	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **avert** | past | Talks between the leaders | a war |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He averted his gaze when the teacher looked at him.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:avert:x5:1
# text = He averted his gaze when the teacher looked at him.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	averted	avert	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	gaze	gaze	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	8	advmod	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
9	at	at	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **avert** | past | He | his gaze |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **look** | past | the teacher |  |  |  |  | at him *= he* | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent at he=Theme |
| 3 | **gaze** |  | his *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom gaze «act intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Hence fishermen dreaded his approach, and endeavoured, by prayer and fasting, to avert the misfortunes which he prophesied.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:avert:x6:1
# text = Hence fishermen dreaded his approach, and endeavoured, by prayer and fasting, to avert the misfortunes which he prophesied.
1	Hence	hence	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
2	fishermen	fisherman	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	dreaded	dread	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	approach	approach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	endeavoured	endeavour	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	by	by	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	prayer	prayer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	fasting	fasting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
15	to	to	PART	TO	_	16	mark	_	_
16	avert	avert	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	conj	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	misfortunes	misfortune	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	obj	_	_
19	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	21	nsubj	_	_
20	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	21	nsubj	_	_
21	prophesied	prophesy	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	18	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dread** | past | fishermen | his approach |  |  |  | hence *property* | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer approach=Stimulus |
| 2 | **endeavour** | past | fishermen *not said here* | prayer and fasting |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **avert** | to-infinitive | fishermen *not said here* | the misfortunes |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **prophesy** | past | the misfortunes |  |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 5 | **approach** |  | his *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom approach «act intransitive»: poss=agent |

<!-- 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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