---
title: chiefly — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «chiefly» in the school dictionary: Chiefly means mainly or mostly. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# chiefly

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**Who acts:** Chiefly, Pandas, class, trip, I, my · **What happens:** mean, eat, be, find, make, know · **To what, where:** all, bamboo, Rainforests, equator, cake, town

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Chiefly means mainly or mostly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chiefly:m1:1
# text = Chiefly means mainly or mostly.
1	Chiefly	Chiefly	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	mainly	mainly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	mostly	mostly	ADV	RB	_	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Chiefly |  |  |  |  | mainly *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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 -->
Chiefly means above all, more than anything else.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chiefly:m2:1
# text = Chiefly means above all, more than anything else.
1	Chiefly	Chiefly	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	above	above	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	2	obj	_	_
7	than	than	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	anything	anything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	obl	_	_
9	else	else	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Chiefly | all |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Pandas eat chiefly bamboo.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chiefly:x1:1
# text = Pandas eat chiefly bamboo.
1	Pandas	panda	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	eat	eat	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	chiefly	chiefly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	bamboo	bamboo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **eat** | present | Pandas | bamboo |  |  |  | chiefly *property* | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bamboo=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The class was chiefly worried about the test.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chiefly:x2:1
# text = The class was chiefly worried about the test.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	chiefly	chiefly	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	worried	worried	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	about	about	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	test	test	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the class |  |  |  |  | about the test; chiefly, worried *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Rainforests are found chiefly near the equator.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chiefly:x3:1
# text = Rainforests are found chiefly near the equator.
1	Rainforests	rainforest	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	found	find	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	chiefly	chiefly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	near	near	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	equator	equator	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 | **find** | present · passive |  | Rainforests |  | the equator |  | chiefly *property* | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: subject=Topic |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cake is made chiefly of chocolate.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chiefly:x4:1
# text = The cake is made chiefly of chocolate.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cake	cake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	chiefly	chiefly	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	xcomp	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	chocolate	chocolate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present · passive |  | the cake |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: subject=Product |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our town is known chiefly for its beach.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chiefly:x5:1
# text = Our town is known chiefly for its beach.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	town	town	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	known	know	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	chiefly	chiefly	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	beach	beach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **know** | present · passive |  | Our town |  |  |  | for town's beach; chiefly *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: subject=Stimulus |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The trip was chiefly for fun.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chiefly:x6:1
# text = The trip was chiefly for fun.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	trip	trip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	chiefly	chiefly	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	fun	fun	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** | past | the trip |  |  |  |  | for fun; chiefly *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In making my selection I have chiefly tried to make the stories characteristic.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:chiefly:x7:1
# text = In making my selection I have chiefly tried to make the stories characteristic.
1	In	in	SCONJ	IN	_	2	mark	_	_
2	making	make	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
3	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	selection	selection	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
6	have	have	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
7	chiefly	chiefly	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	tried	try	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	xcomp	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	stories	story	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	compound	_	_
13	characteristic	characteristic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | gerund |  | my selection |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset selection=Product |
| 2 | **try** | present · perfect | I |  |  |  |  | chiefly *property* | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **make** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | I *not said here* | the stories characteristic |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset characteristic=Product |
| 4 | **select** |  | my |  |  |  |  |  | nom selection «act transitive»: poss=agent |

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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.

<!-- /div -->

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