---
title: backwater — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «backwater» in the school dictionary: A part of a river where the water is still or slow, away from the main current, often behind a bend or a weir. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# backwater

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** water, new ideas, Ratty, Water lilies, Ducks, uncle · **What happens:** be, happen, arrive, steer, grow, dabble · **To what, where:** boat, quiet backwater, backwater, sleepy backwater, little backwater, backwaters · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A part of a river where the water is still or slow, away from the main current, often behind a bend or a weir.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:backwater:m1:1
# text = A part of a river where the water is still or slow, away from the main current, often behind a bend or a weir.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	river	river	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	12	advmod	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
10	still	still	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	slow	slow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	away	away	ADV	RB	_	12	conj	_	_
15	from	from	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
17	main	main	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	current	current	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
20	often	often	ADV	RB	_	23	advmod	_	_
21	behind	behind	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
22	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
23	bend	bend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
24	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	26	cc	_	_
25	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	26	det	_	_
26	weir	weir	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the water |  |  |  | still | slow *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.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A quiet place, such as a small town, where not much happens and new ideas arrive slowly.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:backwater:m2:1
# text = A quiet place, such as a small town, where not much happens and new ideas arrive slowly.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	quiet	quiet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
5	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	9	case	_	_
6	as	as	ADP	IN	_	5	fixed	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	town	town	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
11	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	14	advmod	_	_
12	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	13	advmod	_	_
13	much	much	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
14	happens	happen	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	parataxis	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
16	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	ideas	idea	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	nsubj	_	_
18	arrive	arrive	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	conj	_	_
19	slowly	slowly	ADV	RB	_	18	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **happen** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **arrive** | present | new ideas |  |  |  |  | slowly *property* | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ratty steered the boat into a quiet backwater.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:backwater:x1:1
# text = Ratty steered the boat into a quiet backwater.
1	Ratty	Ratty	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	steered	steer	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	boat	boat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	into	into	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	quiet	quiet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	backwater	backwater	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 | **steer** | past | Ratty | the boat |  | a quiet backwater |  |  | vn accompany-51.7 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent boat=Theme into backwater=Destination |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Water lilies grew in the still backwater.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:backwater:x2:1
# text = Water lilies grew in the still backwater.
1	Water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	lilies	lily	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	grew	grow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	still	still	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	backwater	backwater	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grow** | past | Water lilies |  |  | the backwater |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in backwater=Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ducks dabbled in the backwater, away from the strong current.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:backwater:x3:1
# text = Ducks dabbled in the backwater, away from the strong current.
1	Ducks	duck	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	dabbled	dabble	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	backwater	backwater	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	away	away	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
8	from	from	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	current	current	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dabble** | past | Ducks |  |  | the backwater |  | away *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My uncle says his village is a sleepy backwater.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:backwater:x4:1
# text = My uncle says his village is a sleepy backwater.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	uncle	uncle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|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	village	village	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	sleepy	sleepy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	backwater	backwater	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | My uncle |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | present | uncle's village | a sleepy backwater |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The backwater was full of reeds and dragonflies.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:backwater:x5:1
# text = The backwater was full of reeds and dragonflies.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	backwater	backwater	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	full	full	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	reeds	reed	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	dragonflies	dragonfly	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the backwater |  |  |  |  | of reeds and dragonflies; full *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They tied up the boat in a little backwater for lunch.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:backwater:x6:1
# text = They tied up the boat in a little backwater for lunch.
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	tied	tie	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	up	up	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	boat	boat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	backwater	backwater	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
10	for	for	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	lunch	lunch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tie up** | past | They | the boat |  | a little backwater for lunch |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent boat=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fish rest in backwaters when the river is in flood.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:backwater:x7:1
# text = Fish rest in backwaters when the river is in flood.
1	Fish	fish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	rest	rest	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	backwaters	backwater	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
5	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	10	advmod	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	river	river	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	flood	flood	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 | **rest** | present | Fish |  |  | backwaters |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V NP.theme PP»: agent=Agent in backwater=Location |
| 2 | **is** | present | the river |  |  | flood |  |  | 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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