---
title: callous — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «callous» in the school dictionary: Cruel and not caring at all about other people's feelings or pain. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# callous

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** It, she, callous man, villain, Ignoring, judge · **What happens:** not care, show, be, laugh, fall over, kick · **To what, where:** all, pity, stray dog, callous joke, people, someone · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Cruel and not caring at all about other people's feelings or pain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:callous:m1:1
# text = Cruel and not caring at all about other people's feelings or pain.
1	Cruel	cruel	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	caring	care	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	conj	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	4	obl	_	_
7	about	about	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
8	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	's	's	PART	POS	_	9	case	_	_
11	feelings	feeling	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	pain	pain	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 | **not** **care** | gerund |  |  |  | all |  |  | vn care-88.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |

<!-- .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 -->
Showing no pity: «a callous remark».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:callous:m2:1
# text = Showing no pity: «a callous remark».
1	Showing	show	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	3	det	_	_
3	pity	pity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	1	punct	_	_
5	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	callous	callous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	remark	remark	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | gerund |  | no pity |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent pity=Recipient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It was callous to laugh when she fell over.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:callous:x1:1
# text = It was callous to laugh when she fell over.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	callous	callous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	laugh	laugh	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	8	advmod	_	_
7	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	fell	fall	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	advcl	_	_
9	over	over	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | It |  |  |  |  | callous *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **laugh** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **fall over** | past | she |  |  |  |  | over *property* | vn occur-48.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The callous man kicked the stray dog.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:callous:x2:1
# text = The callous man kicked the stray dog.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	callous	callous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	kicked	kick	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	stray	stray	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **kick** | past | the callous man | the stray dog |  |  |  |  | vn split-23.2 «NP V NP apart»: agent=Agent dog=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The villain made a callous joke about the people he had cheated.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:callous:x3:1
# text = The villain made a callous joke about the people he had cheated.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	villain	villain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	callous	callous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	joke	joke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	about	about	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	_
10	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
11	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	_
12	cheated	cheat	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	9	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | the villain | a callous joke |  |  |  | about the people | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset joke=Product |
| 2 | **cheat** | past · perfect | villain | the people *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn cheat-10.6.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent people=Source |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ignoring someone who needs help can be callous.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:callous:x4:1
# text = Ignoring someone who needs help can be callous.
1	Ignoring	ignore	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	csubj	_	_
2	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	1	obj	_	_
3	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	4	nsubj	_	_
4	needs	need	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	_
5	help	help	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
6	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
7	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	cop	_	_
8	callous	callous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ignore** | gerund |  | someone |  |  |  |  | vn neglect-75.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent someone=Theme |
| 2 | **need** | present |  | help |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot help=Theme |
| 3 | **is** | can | Ignoring |  |  |  |  | callous *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The judge called the crime cold and callous.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:callous:x5:1
# text = The judge called the crime cold and callous.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	judge	judge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	crime	crime	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	cold	cold	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	callous	callous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | participle | the judge | the crime |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent crime=Recipient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She was shocked by his callous words.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:callous:x6:1
# text = She was shocked by his callous words.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	shocked	shock	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	by	by	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
6	callous	callous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shock** | past · passive | his callous words | She |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus subject=Experiencer |
| 2 | **word** |  | his *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom word «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
So great indeed was their faith in a mother’s love that they felt they could afford to be callous for a bit longer.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:callous:x7:1
# text = So great indeed was their faith in a mother’s love that they felt they could afford to be callous for a bit longer.
1	So	so	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
3	indeed	indeed	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	faith	faith	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	mother	mother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	’s	's	PART	POS	_	9	case	_	_
11	love	love	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
12	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	14	obj	_	_
13	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
14	felt	feel	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	acl:relcl	_	_
15	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	nsubj	_	_
16	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	17	aux	_	_
17	afford	afford	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	ccomp	_	_
18	to	to	PART	TO	_	20	mark	_	_
19	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	20	cop	_	_
20	callous	callous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	xcomp	_	_
21	for	for	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
22	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
23	bit	bit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	obl	_	_
24	longer	long	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	23	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past |  | their great faith |  | a mother's love |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **feel** | past | they | a mother's love |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **afford** | could | they |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **is** | to-infinitive | they *not said here* |  |  |  |  | for a bit; callous *property* | tree rules |
| 5 | **love** |  | a mother |  |  |  |  |  | nom love «feeling transitive»: poss=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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