---
title: bard — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «bard» in the school dictionary: A bard was a poet and singer who told stories in verse, especially in old Celtic lands such as Wales, Ireland and Scotland. 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/B/bard/)

<!-- 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/) / [B](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/) / bard

# bard

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** bard, poet, Welsh bards, Robert Burns, Toad, inveterate bard · **What happens:** be, tell, mean, sing, compete, call · **To what, where:** poet, stories, verse, William, Eisteddfod, Shakespeare · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«bard» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [bard in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/bard.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: old — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A bard was a poet and singer who told stories in verse, especially in old Celtic lands such as Wales, Ireland and Scotland.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bard:m1:1
# text = A bard was a poet and singer who told stories in verse, especially in old Celtic lands such as Wales, Ireland and Scotland.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	bard	bard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	poet	poet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	singer	singer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
9	told	tell	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
10	stories	story	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	verse	verse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
14	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	18	advmod	_	_
15	in	in	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
16	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
17	Celtic	celtic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	lands	land	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obl	_	_
19	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	21	case	_	_
20	as	as	ADP	IN	_	19	fixed	_	_
21	Wales	Wales	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	18	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
23	Ireland	Ireland	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	21	conj	_	_
24	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	25	cc	_	_
25	Scotland	Scotland	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	21	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | a bard | a poet and singer |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* | past | a poet and singer | stories |  | verse |  | in old Celtic lands such Wales and Ireland and Scotland | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent story=Recipient |

<!-- .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}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: literary — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A bard is any poet.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bard:m2:1
# text = A bard is any poet.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	bard	bard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	any	any	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	5	det	_	_
5	poet	poet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a bard | any poet |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«The Bard» means William Shakespeare.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bard:m3:1
# text = «The Bard» means William Shakespeare.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	Bard	Bard	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	William	William	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
7	Shakespeare	Shakespeare	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | the Bard | William |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent william=Topic |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The bard sang of the great deeds of the king.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bard:x1:1
# text = The bard sang of the great deeds of the king.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	bard	bard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	sang	sing	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	deeds	deed	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	king	king	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sing** *speech: express* | past | the bard |  |  |  |  | of the great deeds of the king | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Welsh bards compete at the Eisteddfod.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bard:x2:1
# text = Welsh bards compete at the Eisteddfod.
1	Welsh	welsh	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	bards	bard	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	compete	compete	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	Eisteddfod	Eisteddfod	PROPN	NNP	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 | **compete** | present | Welsh bards |  |  | the Eisteddfod |  |  | vn battle-36.4 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Shakespeare is called the Bard of Avon.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bard:x3:1
# text = Shakespeare is called the Bard of Avon.
1	Shakespeare	Shakespeare	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	Bard	Bard	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	xcomp	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	Avon	Avon	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | present · passive |  | Shakespeare |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: subject=Recipient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The bard played his harp by the fire.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bard:x4:1
# text = The bard played his harp by the fire.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	bard	bard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	played	play	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|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	harp	harp	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	by	by	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	fire	fire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **play** | past | the bard | bard's harp |  |  |  | by the fire | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent harp=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Robert Burns is Scotland's national bard.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bard:x5:1
# text = Robert Burns is Scotland's national bard.
1	Robert	Robert	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	Burns	Burn	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	Scotland	Scotland	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	's	's	PART	POS	_	4	case	_	_
6	national	national	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	bard	bard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Robert Burns | Scotland's national bard |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Toad thought himself a great bard and wrote songs about himself.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bard:x6:1
# text = Toad thought himself a great bard and wrote songs about himself.
1	Toad	Toad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	thought	think	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	himself	himself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	2	obj	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	bard	bard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	xcomp	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	wrote	write	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
9	songs	song	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	_
10	about	about	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	himself	himself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **think** *speech: other* | past | Toad | Toad |  |  |  |  | vn wish-62 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot himself=Theme |
| 2 | **write** | past | Toad *not said here* | songs |  |  |  | about Toad | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent song=Recipient about himself=Topic |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
“I would wait twice as long for a poem,” said the inveterate bard.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bard:x7:1
# text = “I would wait twice as long for a poem,” said the inveterate bard.
1	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
3	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	wait	wait	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	ccomp	_	_
5	twice	twice	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	7	advmod	_	_
6	as	as	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	long	long	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	4	advmod	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	poem	poem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
13	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	inveterate	inveterate	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	bard	bard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	13	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wait** *in a quote* | would | the inveterate bard *= bard* |  |  |  |  | long *property* | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | the inveterate bard |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |

<!-- 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: [barberry](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/barberry/)
- next →: [bare](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bare/)
- ↑ back to [B in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/)