---
title: bastille — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «bastille» in the school dictionary: The Bastille was a fortress prison in Paris; on 14 July 1789 crowds stormed it, starting the French Revolution. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# bastille

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Bastille, crowds, Storming, crowd, We, French people · **What happens:** be, storm, start, mean, sound, begin · **To what, where:** fortress prison, Paris, Bastille, 14, French Revolution, fort · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Bastille was a fortress prison in Paris; on 14 July 1789 crowds stormed it, starting the French Revolution.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bastille:m1:1
# text = The Bastille was a fortress prison in Paris; on 14 July 1789 crowds stormed it, starting the French Revolution.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Bastille	Bastille	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	fortress	fortress	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	prison	prison	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	Paris	Paris	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	15	punct	_	_
10	on	on	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	14	14	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	15	obl	_	_
12	July	July	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	nmod:unmarked	_	_
13	1789	1789	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	11	flat	_	_
14	crowds	crowd	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	nsubj	_	_
15	stormed	storm	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
16	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
18	starting	start	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	15	advcl	_	_
19	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
20	French	French	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	21	compound	_	_
21	Revolution	Revolution	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	18	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the Bastille | a fortress prison |  | Paris |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **storm** | past | crowds | Bastille |  | 14  July |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **start** | gerund | crowds *not said here* | the French Revolution |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent revolution=Eventuality |

<!-- .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: French — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
bastille means a fort or castle; it sounds like bass-TEEL to an English ear.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bastille:m2:1
# text = bastille means a fort or castle; it sounds like bass-TEEL to an English ear.
1	bastille	bastille	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	fort	fort	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	castle	castle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	sounds	sound	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	_
10	like	like	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	bass	bass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	TEEL	teel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
14	to	to	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
15	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	English	English	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	ear	ear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | bastille | a fort or castle |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fort=Topic |
| 2 | **sound** | present | bastille |  |  |  |  | like bass TEEL; to a English ear | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ PP.experiencer»: agent=Stimulus to ear=Experiencer |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Storming of the Bastille began the French Revolution.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bastille:x1:1
# text = The Storming of the Bastille began the French Revolution.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Storming	storming	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	Bastille	Bastille	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	began	begin	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	French	French	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	Revolution	Revolution	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **begin** | past | the Storming of the Bastille | the French Revolution |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent revolution=Eventuality |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Bastille Day is celebrated with fireworks in France.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bastille:x2:1
# text = Bastille Day is celebrated with fireworks in France.
1	Bastille	Bastille	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	Day	Day	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	celebrated	celebrate	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	fireworks	firework	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	France	France	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **celebrate** | present · passive |  | Bastille Day |  | France |  | with fireworks | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Bastille held only seven prisoners when it was stormed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bastille:x3:1
# text = The Bastille held only seven prisoners when it was stormed.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Bastille	Bastille	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	held	hold	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	only	only	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	seven	seven	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	prisoners	prisoner	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
7	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	10	advmod	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj:pass	_	_
9	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux:pass	_	_
10	stormed	storm	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hold** | past | the Bastille | seven prisoners |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent prisoner=Theme |
| 2 | **storm** | past · passive |  | Bastille |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The crowd tore down the walls of the Bastille.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bastille:x4:1
# text = The crowd tore down the walls of the Bastille.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	crowd	crowd	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	tore	tore	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	down	down	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	walls	wall	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	Bastille	Bastille	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tore down** | past | the crowd | the walls of the Bastille |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We learned about the Bastille in history.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bastille:x5:1
# text = We learned about the Bastille in history.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	learned	learn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	about	about	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	Bastille	Bastille	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	history	history	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **learn** | past | We |  |  | history |  | about the Bastille | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent about bastille=Topic |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
French people call the day le 14 juillet.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bastille:x6:1
# text = French people call the day le 14 juillet.
1	French	French	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	call	call	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	le	le	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
7	14	14	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	flat	_	_
8	juillet	juillet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | present | French people |  |  |  | day |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V»: agent=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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