---
title: cleanse — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «cleanse» in the school dictionary: To clean something thoroughly, especially skin or a wound: «Cleanse the cut with water.». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# cleanse

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Ethnic cleansing, people, you, Mum, psalm, rain · **What happens:** clean, cleanse, make, remove, mean, drive out · **To what, where:** something, cut, someone, me, sin, harmful things · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«cleanse» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [cleanse in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/cleanse.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To clean something thoroughly, especially skin or a wound: «Cleanse the cut with water.».

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cleanse:m1:1
# text = To clean something thoroughly, especially skin or a wound: «Cleanse the cut with water.».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	clean	clean	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	thoroughly	thoroughly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
6	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	skin	skin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	wound	wound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
12	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	Cleanse	cleanse	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	7	appos	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	cut	cut	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	_
16	with	with	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **clean** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  | skin or a wound *obl*; thoroughly *property* | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent something=Patient |
| 2 | **cleanse** *in a quote* | infinitive |  | the cut |  |  |  | with water | vn groom-41.1.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cut=Patient |

<!-- .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 -->
To make someone or something pure, free from sin or guilt (church, Bible): «Cleanse me from my sin.».

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cleanse:m2:1
# text = To make someone or something pure, free from sin or guilt (church, Bible): «Cleanse me from my sin.».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	make	make	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	conj	_	_
6	pure	pure	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	free	free	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
9	from	from	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	sin	sin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	guilt	guilt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	_
13	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	church	church	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
16	Bible	Bible	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	14	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	20	punct	_	_
19	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	Cleanse	cleanse	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl:relcl	_	_
21	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	20	obj	_	_
22	from	from	ADP	IN	_	24	case	_	_
23	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	24	nmod:poss	_	_
24	sin	sin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | to-infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset someone=Product |
| 2 | **cleanse** *in a quote* | infinitive |  | me |  | my sin |  |  | vn groom-41.1.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent i=Patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To remove harmful or unwanted things: «cleanse the air».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cleanse:m3:1
# text = To remove harmful or unwanted things: «cleanse the air».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	remove	remove	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	harmful	harmful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	unwanted	unwanted	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	_
6	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	cleanse	cleanse	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	air	air	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **remove** | to-infinitive |  | harmful things |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **cleanse** *in a quote* | infinitive |  | the air |  |  |  |  | vn groom-41.1.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent air=Patient |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Ethnic cleansing» means driving out or killing a whole group of people because of who they are — a terrible crime.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cleanse:m4:1
# text = «Ethnic cleansing» means driving out or killing a whole group of people because of who they are — a terrible crime.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Ethnic	ethnic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	cleansing	cleansing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	driving	drive	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	xcomp	_	_
7	out	out	ADP	RP	_	6	compound:prt	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	killing	kill	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	conj	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	whole	whole	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
13	of	of	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	nmod	_	_
15	because	because	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADP	17	case	_	_
16	of	of	ADP	IN	_	15	fixed	_	_
17	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	6	obl	_	_
18	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	nsubj	_	_
19	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	17	cop	_	_
20	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	23	punct	_	_
21	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
22	terrible	terrible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	23	amod	_	_
23	crime	crime	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Ethnic cleansing |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **drive out** *not said to happen* | gerund | Ethnic cleansing *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn nonvehicle-51.4.2-1 «NP.agent V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **kill** | gerund | Ethnic cleansing *not said here* | a whole group of people |  |  |  |  | vn remove-10.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent group=Theme |
| 4 | **is** | present | people |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Cleanse the scratch with clean water before putting on a plaster.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cleanse:x1:1
# text = Cleanse the scratch with clean water before putting on a plaster.
1	Cleanse	cleanse	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	scratch	scratch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	clean	clean	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
7	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
8	putting	put	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	advcl	_	_
9	on	on	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	plaster	plaster	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cleanse** | imperative | you *not said here* | the scratch |  |  |  | with clean water | vn groom-41.1.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent scratch=Patient |
| 2 | **put** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  | a plaster |  |  | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V PP.destination NP»: agent=Agent on plaster=Destination |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum uses a face cleanser every night.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cleanse:x2:1
# text = Mum uses a face cleanser every night.
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	uses	use	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	face	face	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	cleanser	cleanser	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	7	det	_	_
7	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | Mum | a face cleanser |  |  | night |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cleanser=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Wash me and cleanse me from my sin,» says the psalm.

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cleanse:x3:1
# text = «Wash me and cleanse me from my sin,» says the psalm.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Wash	wash	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	ccomp	_	_
3	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	obj	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	cleanse	cleanse	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	conj	_	_
6	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	obj	_	_
7	from	from	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	sin	sin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	_
12	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	psalm	psalm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wash** *in a quote* | infinitive |  | the psalm *= psalm* |  |  |  |  | vn floss-41.2.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent i=Patient |
| 2 | **cleanse** *in a quote* | infinitive |  | the psalm *= psalm* |  | my sin |  |  | vn groom-41.1.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent i=Patient |
| 3 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | the psalm |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The rain seemed to cleanse the dusty city.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cleanse:x4:1
# text = The rain seemed to cleanse the dusty city.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	seemed	seem	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	cleanse	cleanse	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	dusty	dusty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	city	city	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **seem** | past | the rain |  |  |  |  |  | vn seem-109-1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Theme clause=Attribute |
| 2 | **cleanse** | to-infinitive | the rain *not said here* | the dusty city |  |  |  |  | vn groom-41.1.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent city=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The nurse cleansed the wound carefully.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cleanse:x5:1
# text = The nurse cleansed the wound carefully.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	nurse	nurse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	cleansed	cleanse	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	wound	wound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	carefully	carefully	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cleanse** | past | the nurse | the wound |  |  |  | carefully *property* | vn groom-41.1.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent wound=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Christians believe that God's forgiveness cleanses the heart.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cleanse:x6:1
# text = Christians believe that God's forgiveness cleanses the heart.
1	Christians	Christian	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	believe	believe	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
4	God	God	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	's	's	PART	POS	_	4	case	_	_
6	forgiveness	forgiveness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	cleanses	cleanse	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	heart	heart	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **believe** | present | Christians |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 2 | **cleanse** | present | God's forgiveness | the heart |  |  |  |  | vn groom-41.1.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent heart=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Then the hall was cleansed and the banquet recommenced.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cleanse:x7:1
# text = Then the hall was cleansed and the banquet recommenced.
1	Then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	5	advmod	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	hall	hall	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	cleansed	cleanse	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	banquet	banquet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	recommenced	recommence	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cleanse** | past · passive |  | the hall |  |  | then |  | vn groom-41.1.2 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |
| 2 | **recommence** | past | the banquet |  |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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