---
title: besieged — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «besieged» in the school dictionary: Surrounded by an army that is trying to capture a town or castle. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# besieged

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** army, many people, besieged town, fans, Greeks · **What happens:** surround, try, capture, crowd, want, bother · **To what, where:** town, something, castle, food, footballer, teacher

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Surrounded by an army that is trying to capture a town or castle.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:besieged:m1:1
# text = Surrounded by an army that is trying to capture a town or castle.
1	Surrounded	surround	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
2	by	by	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	army	army	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl:agent	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	trying	try	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	acl:relcl	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	capture	capture	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	town	town	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	castle	castle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **surround** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn contiguous\_location-47.8 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **try** | present · progressive | a army |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **capture** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | a army *not said here* | a town or castle |  |  |  |  | vn steal-10.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent town=Theme |

<!-- .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 -->
Surrounded or crowded by many people who want something, such as reporters or fans.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:besieged:m2:1
# text = Surrounded or crowded by many people who want something, such as reporters or fans.
1	Surrounded	surround	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
2	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	crowded	crowd	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	1	conj	_	_
4	by	by	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
7	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
8	want	want	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
9	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
11	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	13	case	_	_
12	as	as	ADP	IN	_	11	fixed	_	_
13	reporters	reporter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	appos	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	fans	fan	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **surround** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn contiguous\_location-47.8 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **crowd** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | by many people | vn spray-9.7-1-1 «NP V PP.destination»: agent=Theme by people=Destination |
| 3 | **want** | present | many people | something |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot something=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Bothered by a great many requests, questions or problems.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:besieged:m3:1
# text = Bothered by a great many requests, questions or problems.
1	Bothered	bother	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
2	by	by	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
4	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
5	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	requests	request	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	questions	question	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	problems	problem	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **bother** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | by a great many requests and questions or problems | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The castle was besieged for six months.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:besieged:x1:1
# text = The castle was besieged for six months.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	castle	castle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	besieged	besiege	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	six	six	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
7	months	month	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **besiege** | past · passive |  | the castle |  |  | month |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The besieged town ran out of food.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:besieged:x2:1
# text = The besieged town ran out of food.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	besieged	besiege	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	amod	_	_
3	town	town	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	ran	run	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	out	out	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **besiege** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **run** | past | the besieged town |  |  | food |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme out food=Trajectory |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The footballer was besieged by fans asking for autographs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:besieged:x3:1
# text = The footballer was besieged by fans asking for autographs.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	footballer	footballer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	besieged	besiege	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	fans	fan	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
7	asking	ask	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	acl	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	autographs	autograph	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **besiege** | past · passive | fans | the footballer |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **ask** *speech: ask* | gerund | fans *not said here* |  |  |  |  | for autographs | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The teacher was besieged with questions about the trip.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:besieged:x4:1
# text = The teacher was besieged with questions about the trip.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	besieged	besiege	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	questions	question	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
7	about	about	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	trip	trip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **besiege** | past · passive |  | the teacher |  |  |  | with questions about the trip | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Troy was besieged by the Greeks for ten years.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:besieged:x5:1
# text = Troy was besieged by the Greeks for ten years.
1	Troy	Troy	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	besieged	besiege	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	by	by	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	Greeks	Greek	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	ten	ten	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **besiege** | past · passive | the Greeks | Troy |  |  | year |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The helpline was besieged with calls after the storm.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:besieged:x6:1
# text = The helpline was besieged with calls after the storm.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	helpline	helpline	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	besieged	besiege	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	calls	call	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
7	after	after	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	storm	storm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **besiege** | past · passive |  | the helpline |  |  | after the storm | with calls | 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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