---
title: cistern — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «cistern» in the school dictionary: The tank above or behind a toilet that holds water for flushing. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# cistern

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** toilet, tank, large underground pool, cistern, Dad, water cistern · **What happens:** hold, store, collect, not flush, fill up, lift · **To what, where:** water, rainwater, lid, chain, loft, great stone cistern

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The tank above or behind a toilet that holds water for flushing.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cistern:m1:1
# text = The tank above or behind a toilet that holds water for flushing.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	tank	tank	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	above	above	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
5	behind	behind	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	toilet	toilet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
8	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
9	holds	hold	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
10	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
11	for	for	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	flushing	flushing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hold** | present | a toilet | water |  |  |  | for flushing | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent water=Theme |

<!-- .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 -->
A tank, often in the loft or under the ground, that stores water for a house or building.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cistern:m2:1
# text = A tank, often in the loft or under the ground, that stores water for a house or building.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	tank	tank	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
4	often	often	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	loft	loft	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
9	under	under	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	ground	ground	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
13	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	14	nsubj	_	_
14	stores	store	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
15	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	_
16	for	for	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	_
19	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
20	building	building	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	14	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **store** | present | a tank and the loft or the ground | water |  |  |  | for a house or building | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent water=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In old times and dry places, a large underground pool or tank for collecting rainwater.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cistern:m3:1
# text = In old times and dry places, a large underground pool or tank for collecting rainwater.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	times	time	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obl	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
5	dry	dry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	places	place	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
9	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
10	underground	underground	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	pool	pool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	tank	tank	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	_
14	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
15	collecting	collect	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	11	acl	_	_
16	rainwater	rainwater	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **collect** | gerund | a large underground pool or tank *not said here* | rainwater |  |  |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent rainwater=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The toilet will not flush until the cistern fills up again.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cistern:x1:1
# text = The toilet will not flush until the cistern fills up again.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	toilet	toilet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	flush	flush	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	until	until	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	cistern	cistern	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	fills	fill	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	advcl	_	_
10	up	up	ADP	RP	_	9	compound:prt	_	_
11	again	again	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **flush** | future | the toilet |  |  |  |  |  | vn hiccup-40.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **fill up** | present | the cistern |  |  |  | again |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad lifted the lid of the cistern to fix the chain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cistern:x2:1
# text = Dad lifted the lid of the cistern to fix the chain.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	lifted	lift	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	lid	lid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	cistern	cistern	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	fix	fix	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	chain	chain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lift** | past | Dad | the lid of the cistern |  |  |  |  | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent lid=Theme |
| 2 | **fix** | to-infinitive | Dad *not said here* | the chain |  |  |  |  | vn shake-22.3-2 «NP V NP together»: agent=Agent chain=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cold-water cistern is up in the loft.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cistern:x3:1
# text = The cold-water cistern is up in the loft.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
2	cold	cold	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	cistern	cistern	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
7	up	up	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	loft	loft	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the water cistern |  |  | the loft |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The ancient city kept rainwater in a great stone cistern.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cistern:x4:1
# text = The ancient city kept rainwater in a great stone cistern.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	ancient	ancient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	city	city	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	kept	keep	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	rainwater	rainwater	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
8	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
9	stone	stone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	cistern	cistern	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | participle | the ancient city *not said here* | rainwater |  | a great stone cistern |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent rainwater=Theme in cistern=Location |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We visited a huge underground cistern with hundreds of columns.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cistern:x5:1
# text = We visited a huge underground cistern with hundreds of columns.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	visited	visit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
4	huge	huge	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
5	underground	underground	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	cistern	cistern	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	hundreds	hundred	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	columns	column	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **visit** | past | We | a huge underground cistern |  |  |  | with hundreds of columns | vn meet-36.3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cistern=Co-Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Water dripped from the cistern all night.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cistern:x6:1
# text = Water dripped from the cistern all night.
1	Water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
2	dripped	drip	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	1	acl	_	_
3	from	from	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	cistern	cistern	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	7	det	_	_
7	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **drip** | participle |  | Water *not said here* |  | the cistern | night |  | vn substance\_emission-43.4-1 «NP.theme V PP.source»: agent=Theme from cistern=Source |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
On the farm, a cistern collects rain from the roof.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cistern:x7:1
# text = On the farm, a cistern collects rain from the roof.
1	On	on	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	farm	farm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	cistern	cistern	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	collects	collect	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
9	from	from	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	roof	roof	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **collect** | present | a cistern | rain |  | the farm |  | from the roof | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent rain=Theme from roof=Source |

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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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