---
title: captivity — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «captivity» in the school dictionary: Captivity is the state of being kept in a place and not being free, like an animal in a zoo or a prisoner. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# captivity

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Captivity, Pandas, animals, you · **What happens:** be, keep, not be, mean, live, hold · **To what, where:** state, place, captivity, wild, lion, prisoners · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Captivity is the state of being kept in a place and not being free, like an animal in a zoo or a prisoner.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:captivity:m1:1
# text = Captivity is the state of being kept in a place and not being free, like an animal in a zoo or a prisoner.
1	Captivity	captivity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	state	state	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	kept	keep	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
12	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	14	advmod	_	_
13	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	14	cop	_	_
14	free	free	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
16	like	like	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	_
19	in	in	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
20	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	zoo	zoo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	nmod	_	_
22	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
23	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
24	prisoner	prisoner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Captivity | the state |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **keep** | gerund · passive |  | the state *not said here* |  | a place |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: in place=Location |
| 3 | **not** **is** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | like a animal in a zoo or a prisoner; free *property* | tree rules |

<!-- .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 -->
In captivity means kept by people instead of living in the wild.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:captivity:m2:1
# text = In captivity means kept by people instead of living in the wild.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	captivity	captivity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	kept	keep	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	ccomp	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl:agent	_	_
7	instead	instead	ADV	RB	ExtPos=SCONJ	9	mark	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	fixed	_	_
9	living	live	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	wild	wild	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present |  |  |  | captivity |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **keep** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **live** | gerund |  |  |  | the wild |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in wild=Location |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Captivity can also mean being held completely by something pleasant, like a delightful story.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:captivity:m3:1
# text = Captivity can also mean being held completely by something pleasant, like a delightful story.
1	Captivity	captivity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	also	also	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	held	hold	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	xcomp	_	_
7	completely	completely	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
8	by	by	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	obl	_	_
10	pleasant	pleasant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
12	like	like	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	delightful	delightful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can | Captivity |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **hold** *not said to happen* | gerund · passive | Captivity *not said here* |  |  |  |  | by something; completely *property* | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: by something=Location |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Pandas are hard to breed in captivity.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:captivity:x1:1
# text = Pandas are hard to breed in captivity.
1	Pandas	panda	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	breed	breed	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	captivity	captivity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Pandas |  |  |  |  | hard *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **breed** | to-infinitive | Pandas *not said here* |  |  | captivity |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The lion was born in captivity and has never seen the wild.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:captivity:x2:1
# text = The lion was born in captivity and has never seen the wild.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	lion	lion	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	born	bear	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	captivity	captivity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
8	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
9	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
10	seen	see	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	4	conj	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	wild	wild	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **bear** | past · passive |  | the lion |  | captivity |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |
| 2 | **not** **see** | present · perfect |  | the wild |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer wild=Stimulus |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some animals live longer in captivity than in the wild.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:captivity:x3:1
# text = Some animals live longer in captivity than in the wild.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	live	live	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	longer	long	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	3	advmod	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	captivity	captivity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	than	than	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	wild	wild	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** | present | some animals |  |  | captivity |  | than the wild; long *property* | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in captivity=Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The prisoners were held in captivity for months.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:captivity:x4:1
# text = The prisoners were held in captivity for months.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	prisoners	prisoner	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	held	hold	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	captivity	captivity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	months	month	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hold** | past · passive |  | the prisoners |  | captivity | month |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: subject=Theme in captivity=Location |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The rescued turtle was released from captivity into the sea.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:captivity:x5:1
# text = The rescued turtle was released from captivity into the sea.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	rescued	rescue	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	amod	_	_
3	turtle	turtle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	released	release	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	captivity	captivity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
8	into	into	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **rescue** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn steal-10.5 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **release** | past · passive |  | the rescued turtle |  | captivity |  | into the sea | vn free-10.6.3-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: subject=Source |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Should dolphins be kept in captivity? Discuss.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Should dolphins be kept in captivity?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:captivity:x6:1
# text = Should dolphins be kept in captivity?
1	Should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
2	dolphins	dolphin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	kept	keep	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	captivity	captivity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | should · passive |  | dolphins |  | captivity |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: subject=Theme in captivity=Location |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* Discuss.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:captivity:x6:2
# text = Discuss.
1	Discuss	discuss	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **discuss** *speech: other* | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn chit\_chat-37.6-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The present volume attempts to begin the pleasant captivity from the earliest years.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:captivity:x7:1
# text = The present volume attempts to begin the pleasant captivity from the earliest years.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	present	present	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	volume	volume	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	attempts	attempt	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	begin	begin	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	acl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	pleasant	pleasant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	captivity	captivity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
10	from	from	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	earliest	early	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	13	amod	_	_
13	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **begin** | to-infinitive |  | the pleasant captivity |  |  | year |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent captivity=Eventuality |

<!-- 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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