---
title: charon — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «charon» in the school dictionary: Charon is the ferryman in ancient Greek stories who rowed the souls of the dead across the river Styx (or Acheron) into the underworld, in return for a coin. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/charon/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [C](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/) / charon

# charon

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Charon, ancient Greek stories, Greeks, Horizons spacecraft, Pluto, hero · **What happens:** be, row, put, pay, take, spin · **To what, where:** ferryman, ancient Greek stories, souls, river, largest moon, dead

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: Greek myth — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Charon is the ferryman in ancient Greek stories who rowed the souls of the dead across the river Styx (or Acheron) into the underworld, in return for a coin.

<!-- fold The tree, 29 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:charon:m1:1
# text = Charon is the ferryman in ancient Greek stories who rowed the souls of the dead across the river Styx (or Acheron) into the underworld, in return for a coin.
1	Charon	charon	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	ferryman	ferryman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	ancient	ancient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
7	Greek	Greek	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	stories	story	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
9	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj	_	_
10	rowed	row	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	souls	soul	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obj	_	_
13	of	of	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	dead	dead	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	nmod	_	_
16	across	across	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	river	river	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	_
19	Styx	Styx	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	18	appos	_	_
20	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	22	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
22	Acheron	Acheron	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	19	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	22	punct	_	_
24	into	into	ADP	IN	_	26	case	_	_
25	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	26	det	_	_
26	underworld	underworld	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	29	punct	_	_
28	in	in	ADP	IN	_	29	case	_	_
29	return	return	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
30	for	for	ADP	IN	_	32	case	_	_
31	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	32	det	_	_
32	coin	coin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	29	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
33	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Charon | the ferryman and return for a coin |  | ancient Greek stories |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **row** | past | ancient Greek stories | the souls of the dead |  | the river |  | into the underworld | vn nonvehicle-51.4.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent soul=Theme across river=Trajectory |

<!-- .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}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: science — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Charon is the largest moon of the dwarf planet Pluto, about half Pluto's size.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:charon:m2:1
# text = Charon is the largest moon of the dwarf planet Pluto, about half Pluto's size.
1	Charon	charon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	largest	large	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	5	amod	_	_
5	moon	moon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
8	dwarf	dwarf	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
9	planet	planet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	Pluto	Pluto	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
12	about	about	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
13	half	half	DET	PDT	NumForm=Word|NumType=Frac|PronType=Ind	16	det:predet	_	_
14	Pluto	Pluto	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	16	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	's	's	PART	POS	_	14	case	_	_
16	size	size	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Charon | the largest moon and Pluto's size |  |  |  | of the dwarf planet Pluto | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Charon rowed the dead across the river Styx.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:charon:x1:1
# text = Charon rowed the dead across the river Styx.
1	Charon	Charon	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	rowed	row	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	dead	dead	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	obj	_	_
5	across	across	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	river	river	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	Styx	Styx	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **row** | past | Charon | the dead |  | the river Styx |  |  | vn nonvehicle-51.4.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent dead=Theme across styx=Trajectory |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Greeks put a coin with the dead to pay Charon.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:charon:x2:1
# text = The Greeks put a coin with the dead to pay Charon.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Greeks	Greek	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	put	put	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	coin	coin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	dead	dead	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	obl	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	pay	pay	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
11	Charon	Charon	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **put** | past | the Greeks | a coin |  |  |  | with the dead | vn invest-13.5.4-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent coin=Goal |
| 2 | **pay** | to-infinitive | the Greeks *not said here* | Charon |  |  |  |  | vn pay-68-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent charon=Asset |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Charon is Pluto's biggest moon.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:charon:x3:1
# text = Charon is Pluto's biggest moon.
1	Charon	charon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
3	Pluto	Pluto	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	's	's	PART	POS	_	3	case	_	_
5	biggest	big	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	6	amod	_	_
6	moon	moon	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 | **is a** | present | Charon | Pluto's biggest moon |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The New Horizons spacecraft took photos of Charon.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:charon:x4:1
# text = The New Horizons spacecraft took photos of Charon.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	New	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	Horizons	Horizon	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	4	compound	_	_
4	spacecraft	spacecraft	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	photos	photo	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	Charon	Charon	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | past | Horizons spacecraft | photos of Charon |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent photo=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Pluto and Charon spin around each other like dancers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:charon:x5:1
# text = Pluto and Charon spin around each other like dancers.
1	Pluto	Pluto	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	Charon	Charon	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	conj	_	_
4	spin	spin	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	around	around	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	each	each	DET	DT	ExtPos=PRON|PronType=Rcp	4	obl	_	_
7	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	fixed	_	_
8	like	like	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	dancers	dancer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spin** | present | Pluto and Charon |  |  | each |  | like dancers | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V PP.trajectory»: agent=Theme around each=Trajectory |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the story the hero had no coin for Charon.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:charon:x6:1
# text = In the story the hero had no coin for Charon.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	hero	hero	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	8	det	_	_
8	coin	coin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	Charon	Charon	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the hero | no coin |  | the story |  | for Charon | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent coin=Patient |

<!-- 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 -->
- ← previous: [charmer](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/charmer/)
- next →: [chart](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/chart/)
- ↑ back to [C in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/)