---
title: butler — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «butler» in the school dictionary: A butler is the chief male servant in a large, rich house, who looks after the wine, the dining room and the other servants. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# butler

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** butler, chief male servant, Everyone, family, she · **What happens:** be, look, open, bow, serve, suspect · **To what, where:** chief male servant, large rich house, surname, front door, dinner, old house · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«butler» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [butler in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/butler.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A butler is the chief male servant in a large, rich house, who looks after the wine, the dining room and the other servants.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:butler:m1:1
# text = A butler is the chief male servant in a large, rich house, who looks after the wine, the dining room and the other servants.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	butler	butler	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	chief	chief	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	male	male	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	servant	servant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
10	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
12	rich	rich	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
15	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	16	nsubj	_	_
16	looks	look	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	_
17	after	after	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	wine	wine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
21	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
22	dining	dining	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	compound	_	_
23	room	room	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	conj	_	_
24	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	27	cc	_	_
25	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	27	det	_	_
26	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	27	amod	_	_
27	servants	servant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a butler | the chief male servant |  | a large rich house |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **look** | present | the chief male servant |  |  |  | after the wine and the dining room and the other servants |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |

<!-- .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 -->
Butler is also a surname.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:butler:m2:1
# text = Butler is also a surname.
1	Butler	butler	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	also	also	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	surname	surname	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 | Butler | a surname |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The butler opened the front door and bowed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:butler:x1:1
# text = The butler opened the front door and bowed.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	butler	butler	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	opened	open	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	front	front	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	door	door	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	bowed	bow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **open** | past | the butler | the front door |  |  |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location door=Theme |
| 2 | **bow** | past | the butler *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn acquiesce-95.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the old house, the butler served dinner.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:butler:x2:1
# text = In the old house, the butler served dinner.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	butler	butler	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	served	serve	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	dinner	dinner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **serve** | past | the butler | dinner |  | the old house |  |  | vn fit-54.3 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent dinner=Value in house=Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Everyone in the mystery suspected the butler.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:butler:x3:1
# text = Everyone in the mystery suspected the butler.
1	Everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	5	nsubj	_	_
2	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	mystery	mystery	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
5	suspected	suspect	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	butler	butler	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **suspect** | past | Everyone | the butler |  |  |  |  | vn consider-29.9-2 «NP V NP ADJ»: agent=Agent butler=Attribute |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The butler polished all the silver.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:butler:x4:1
# text = The butler polished all the silver.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	butler	butler	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	polished	polish	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	6	det:predet	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	silver	silver	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 | **polish** | past | the butler | all silver |  |  |  |  | vn butter-9.9 «NP V NP.destination»: agent=Agent silver=Destination |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Batman's butler is called Alfred.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:butler:x5:1
# text = Batman's butler is called Alfred.
1	Batman	Batman	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	's	PART	POS	_	1	case	_	_
3	butler	butler	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	Alfred	Alfred	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The family no longer had a butler.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:butler:x6:1
# text = The family no longer had a butler.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	no	no	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	longer	long	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	5	advmod	_	_
5	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	butler	butler	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the family | a butler |  |  |  | long *property* | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent butler=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Then, clapping her hands, she summoned the chief butler.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:butler:x7:1
# text = Then, clapping her hands, she summoned the chief butler.
1	Then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	clapping	clap	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	8	advcl	_	_
4	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	hands	hand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
7	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	summoned	summon	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	chief	chief	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	butler	butler	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **clap** | gerund | she *not said here* | her hands |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location hand=Theme |
| 2 | **summon** | past | she | the chief butler |  |  | then |  | vn urge-58.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent butler=Recipient |

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**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.

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