---
title: bully — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «bully» in the school dictionary: A bully is a person who hurts, frightens or picks on someone smaller or weaker again and again on purpose. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# bully

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** bully, person, you, someone, We, school · **What happens:** be, hurt, frighten, pick, bully, threaten · **To what, where:** person, someone, them, purpose, old friendly word, good fellow · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«bully» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [bully in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/bully.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A bully is a person who hurts, frightens or picks on someone smaller or weaker again and again on purpose.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bully:m1:1
# text = A bully is a person who hurts, frightens or picks on someone smaller or weaker again and again on purpose.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	bully	bully	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	hurts	hurt	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	frightens	frighten	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	picks	pick	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	_
12	on	on	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	11	obl	_	_
14	smaller	small	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	13	amod	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	weaker	weak	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	14	conj	_	_
17	again	again	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
18	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	again	again	ADV	RB	_	17	conj	_	_
20	on	on	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
21	purpose	purpose	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a bully | a person |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **hurt** | present | a person |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **frighten** | present | a person *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 4 | **pick** | present | a person *not said here* |  |  |  | again | on purpose; on someone | vn chew-39.2 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent on someone=Patient |

<!-- .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 -->
To bully someone is to keep hurting, threatening, teasing or leaving them out on purpose.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bully:m2:1
# text = To bully someone is to keep hurting, threatening, teasing or leaving them out on purpose.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	bully	bully	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	csubj	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	hurting	hurt	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	threatening	threaten	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
11	teasing	tease	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	conj	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	leaving	leave	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	conj	_	_
14	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	obj	_	_
15	out	out	ADP	RP	_	13	compound:prt	_	_
16	on	on	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	purpose	purpose	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **bully** | to-infinitive |  |  | someone |  |  |  | vn captain-29.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent someone=Beneficiary |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | keep *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **hurt** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 4 | **threaten** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 5 | **tease** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn ferret-35.6 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 6 | **leave out** | gerund |  | them *= they* |  | purpose |  |  | vn neglect-75.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent they=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Bully can also be an old friendly word for a good fellow, used when speaking warmly to a friend.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bully:m3:1
# text = Bully can also be an old friendly word for a good fellow, used when speaking warmly to a friend.
1	Bully	bully	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
3	also	also	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
4	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	cop	_	_
5	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
6	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
7	friendly	friendly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	for	for	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	fellow	fellow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	12	acl	_	_
15	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	16	advmod	_	_
16	speaking	speak	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	14	advcl	_	_
17	warmly	warmly	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
18	to	to	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	friend	friend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | can | Bully | a old friendly word |  |  |  | for a good fellow | tree rules |
| 2 | **use** | participle |  | a good fellow *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **speak** *speech: other* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | to a friend; warmly *property* | vn talk-37.5 «NP V PP.co-agent»: agent=Agent to friend=Co-Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tell a teacher if someone is bullying you.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bully:x1:1
# text = Tell a teacher if someone is bullying you.
1	Tell	tell	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
5	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	bullying	bully	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	advcl	_	_
8	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | imperative | you *not said here* |  | a teacher |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent teacher=Recipient |
| 2 | **bully** *a condition, not said to happen* | present · progressive | someone |  | you |  |  |  | vn captain-29.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent you=Beneficiary |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The bully took his lunch money.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bully:x2:1
# text = The bully took his lunch money.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	bully	bully	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	took	take	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	6	nmod:poss	_	_
5	lunch	lunch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | past | the bully | bully's lunch money |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent money=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Being bullied is never your fault.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bully:x3:1
# text = Being bullied is never your fault.
1	Being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	aux:pass	_	_
2	bullied	bully	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	csubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	6	advmod	_	_
5	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	fault	fault	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **bully** | gerund · passive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn captain-29.8-1 «NP V PP.beneficiary» |
| 2 | **not** **is a** | present |  | your fault |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We stood up for her when the bully called her names.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bully:x4:1
# text = We stood up for her when the bully called her names.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	stood	stand	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	up	up	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	obl	_	_
6	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	9	advmod	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	bully	bully	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	called	call	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
10	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	names	name	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stand up** | past | We |  |  |  |  | for her *= she* | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **call** | past | the bully | bully's names |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent name=Recipient |
| 3 | **name** |  | bully |  |  |  |  |  | nom name «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our school has an anti-bullying week.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bully:x5:1
# text = Our school has an anti-bullying week.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	anti-bullying	anti-bullying	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	week	week	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Our school |  |  |  | week |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Bullying online is called cyberbullying.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bully:x6:1
# text = Bullying online is called cyberbullying.
1	Bullying	bullying	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	online	online	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	cyberbullying	cyberbullying	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A real friend never bullies you.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bully:x7:1
# text = A real friend never bullies you.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	friend	friend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	bullies	bully	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **bully** | present | a real friend |  | you |  |  |  | vn captain-29.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent you=Beneficiary |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The bully said sorry in the end.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:bully:x8:1
# text = The bully said sorry in the end.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	bully	bully	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	sorry	sorry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	end	end	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 | **say** *speech: apologize* | past | the bully |  |  |  | in the end | sorry *property* | vn pronounce-29.3.1 «NP V NP PP.manner»: agent=Agent in end=Manner |

<!-- 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 -->
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