---
title: betrayal — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «betrayal» in the school dictionary: Betrayal is breaking someone's trust, for example by telling their secret, lying to them or helping their enemy. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# betrayal

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Betrayal, someone, Telling, She, friend, Judas · **What happens:** break, tell, lie, help, trust, be · **To what, where:** trust, secret, them, enemy, one act, enemies · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Betrayal is breaking someone's trust, for example by telling their secret, lying to them or helping their enemy.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:betrayal:m1:1
# text = Betrayal is breaking someone's trust, for example by telling their secret, lying to them or helping their enemy.
1	Betrayal	betrayal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	breaking	break	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	's	's	PART	POS	_	4	case	_	_
6	trust	trust	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	example	example	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
10	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
11	telling	tell	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
12	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
13	secret	secret	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
15	lying	lie	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	conj	_	_
16	to	to	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	obl	_	_
18	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	helping	help	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	15	conj	_	_
20	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	21	nmod:poss	_	_
21	enemy	enemy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **break** | present · progressive | Betrayal | someone's trust |  |  |  | for example | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer trust=Patient |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* | gerund | Betrayal *not said here* | their secret |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent secret=Recipient |
| 3 | **lie** | gerund | Betrayal *not said here* |  | them *= they* |  |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **help** | gerund | Betrayal *not said here* | their enemy |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent enemy=Beneficiary |
| 5 | **trust** |  | someone |  |  |  |  |  | nom trust «possession intransitive»: poss=agent |

<!-- .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 betrayal is one act of this kind.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:betrayal:m2:1
# text = A betrayal is one act of this kind.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	betrayal	betrayal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	act	act	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	8	det	_	_
8	kind	kind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a betrayal | one act |  |  |  | of this kind | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Betrayal of a country is helping its enemies (treason).

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:betrayal:m3:1
# text = Betrayal of a country is helping its enemies (treason).
1	Betrayal	Betrayal	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	country	country	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	helping	help	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
7	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	enemies	enemy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
9	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	treason	treason	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | present · progressive | Betrayal of a country | country's enemies |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent enemy=Beneficiary |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Telling everyone her secret was a betrayal.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:betrayal:x1:1
# text = Telling everyone her secret was a betrayal.
1	Telling	tell	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	csubj	_	_
2	everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	1	iobj	_	_
3	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	secret	secret	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	betrayal	betrayal	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 | **tell** *speech: assert* | gerund |  | her secret | everyone |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent everyone=Recipient secret=Topic |
| 2 | **is a** | past | Telling | a betrayal |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She felt a deep sense of betrayal when her friend laughed at her.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:betrayal:x2:1
# text = She felt a deep sense of betrayal when her friend laughed at her.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	felt	feel	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	deep	deep	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	sense	sense	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	betrayal	betrayal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
8	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	11	mark	_	_
9	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	friend	friend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
11	laughed	laugh	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
12	at	at	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **feel** | past | She | a deep sense of betrayal |  |  |  |  | vn hunt-35.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sense=Theme |
| 2 | **laugh** | past | her friend |  |  |  |  | at her *= she* | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **sense** |  |  | betrayal |  |  |  |  | nom sense «cognition transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the Bible, Judas's betrayal of Jesus happened for thirty silver coins.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:betrayal:x3:1
# text = In the Bible, Judas's betrayal of Jesus happened for thirty silver coins.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	Bible	Bible	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	Judas	Judas	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	's	's	PART	POS	_	5	case	_	_
7	betrayal	betrayal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	Jesus	Jesus	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
10	happened	happen	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	for	for	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
12	thirty	thirty	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	14	nummod	_	_
13	silver	silver	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	compound	_	_
14	coins	coin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **happen** | past | Judas's betrayal of Jesus |  |  | the Bible |  | for thirty silver coins | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme in bible=Location |
| 2 | **betray** |  | Judas | Jesus |  |  |  |  | nom betrayal «act transitive»: poss=agent of=patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The spy's betrayal cost many lives.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:betrayal:x4:1
# text = The spy's betrayal cost many lives.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	spy	spy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	betrayal	betrayal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	cost	cost	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	lives	life	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cost** | past | the spy's betrayal | many lives |  |  |  |  | vn cost-54.2 «NP V NP.value»: agent=Theme life=Value |
| 2 | **betray** |  | the spy |  |  |  |  |  | nom betrayal «act transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It wasn't a betrayal to tell the teacher that Sam was being hurt.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:betrayal:x5:1
# text = It wasn't a betrayal to tell the teacher that Sam was being hurt.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	betrayal	betrayal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	tell	tell	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
11	Sam	Sam	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	14	nsubj:pass	_	_
12	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	14	aux:pass	_	_
13	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	14	aux:pass	_	_
14	hurt	hurt	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is a** | past | It | a betrayal |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive |  |  | the teacher |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent teacher=Recipient |
| 3 | **hurt** | past · passive |  | Sam |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-2 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The film is about friendship and betrayal.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:betrayal:x6:1
# text = The film is about friendship and betrayal.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	about	about	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	friendship	friendship	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	betrayal	betrayal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the film |  |  |  |  | about friendship and betrayal | 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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