---
title: clutches — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «clutches» in the school dictionary: The power or control of someone dangerous, as in "in the clutches of the villain". Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# clutches

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** cars, princess, She, turtle, Manual cars, most automatic cars · **What happens:** clutch, connect, disconnect, lay, call, escape · **To what, where:** villain, engine, eggs, Small handbags, clutches, dragon · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«clutches» in the school dictionary: its 5 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: [clutches in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/clutches.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: the clutches of — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The power or control of someone dangerous, as in "in the clutches of the villain".

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clutches:m1:1
# text = The power or control of someone dangerous, as in "in the clutches of the villain".
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	power	power	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	control	control	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	nmod	_	_
7	dangerous	dangerous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
9	as	as	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
11	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	clutches	clutch	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	_
15	of	of	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	villain	villain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **clutch** *in a quote* |  |  | the villain |  |  |  |  | nom clutch «act transitive»: of=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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Holds something tightly, often because of fear or pain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clutches:m2:1
# text = Holds something tightly, often because of fear or pain.
1	Holds	hold	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
3	tightly	tightly	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
5	often	often	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
6	because	because	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADP	8	case	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	fixed	_	_
8	fear	fear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	pain	pain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: plural of clutch — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The pedals or devices in cars that connect and disconnect the engine from the wheels.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clutches:m3:1
# text = The pedals or devices in cars that connect and disconnect the engine from the wheels.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	pedals	pedal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	devices	device	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	cars	car	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
7	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
8	connect	connect	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	disconnect	disconnect	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	conj	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	engine	engine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
13	from	from	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	wheels	wheel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **connect** | present | cars |  |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **disconnect** | present | cars *not said here* | the engine |  |  |  | from the wheels | vn disassemble-23.3 «NP V NP PP.co-patient»: agent=Agent engine=Patient from wheel=Co-Patient |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: plural of clutch — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sets of eggs laid at one time, or small groups of people or things.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clutches:m4:1
# text = Sets of eggs laid at one time, or small groups of people or things.
1	Sets	set	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	eggs	egg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	nmod	_	_
4	laid	lay	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
7	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
10	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	groups	group	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	conj	_	_
12	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nmod	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lay** | participle |  | eggs *not said here* |  |  | time |  | vn create-26.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 5 {#m5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Small handbags with no handles, called clutch bags.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clutches:m5:1
# text = Small handbags with no handles, called clutch bags.
1	Small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	handbags	handbag	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	with	with	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	5	det	_	_
5	handles	handle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
8	clutch	clutch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	bags	bag	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | participle · passive |  | Small handbags with no handles |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: subject=Recipient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The princess escaped from the clutches of the dragon.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clutches:x1:1
# text = The princess escaped from the clutches of the dragon.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	princess	princess	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	escaped	escape	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	from	from	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	clutches	clutch	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	dragon	dragon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **escape** | past | the princess |  |  | the clutches of the dragon |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme from clutch=Initial\_Location |
| 2 | **clutch** |  |  | the dragon |  |  |  |  | nom clutch «act transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She clutches her bag tightly on the bus.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clutches:x2:1
# text = She clutches her bag tightly on the bus.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	clutches	clutch	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	bag	bag	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	tightly	tightly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	bus	bus	NOUN	NN	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 | **clutch** | present | She | her bag |  | the bus |  | tightly *property* | vn hold-15.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bag=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The turtle laid two clutches of eggs this year.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clutches:x3:1
# text = The turtle laid two clutches of eggs this year.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	turtle	turtle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	laid	lay	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	clutches	clutch	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	eggs	egg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
8	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	9	det	_	_
9	year	year	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lay** | past | the turtle | two clutches of eggs |  |  | year |  | vn create-26.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent clutch=Result |
| 2 | **clutch** |  |  | eggs |  |  |  |  | nom clutch «act transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Manual cars have clutches; most automatic cars don't.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clutches:x4:1
# text = Manual cars have clutches; most automatic cars don't.
1	Manual	manual	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	cars	car	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	clutches	clutch	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
6	most	most	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	8	amod	_	_
7	automatic	automatic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	cars	car	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
9	do	do	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Manual cars | clutches |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent clutch=Patient |
| 2 | **not** **do** | present | most automatic cars |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He clutches his tummy because it hurts.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clutches:x5:1
# text = He clutches his tummy because it hurts.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	clutches	clutch	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	tummy	tummy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	hurts	hurt	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **clutch** | present | He | his tummy |  |  |  |  | vn hold-15.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tummy=Theme |
| 2 | **hurt** | present | tummy |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP-PRO-ARB»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
When he can't answer, he clutches at straws.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clutches:x6:1
# text = When he can't answer, he clutches at straws.
1	When	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	5	mark	_	_
2	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
3	ca	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	answer	answer	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	clutches	clutch	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
9	at	at	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	straws	straw	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **answer** *speech: assert* | can | he |  |  |  |  |  | vn reciprocate-112-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **clutch** | present | he |  |  | straws |  |  | vn hold-15.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I know no way of rescuing Delicia from her clutches.’

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clutches:x7:1
# text = I know no way of rescuing Delicia from her clutches.’
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	know	know	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	4	det	_	_
4	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	rescuing	rescue	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	acl	_	_
7	Delicia	Delicia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
8	from	from	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	clutches	clutch	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	’	'	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **know** | present | I | no way |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer way=Stimulus |
| 2 | **rescue** | gerund | no way *not said here* | Delicia |  | Delicia's clutches |  |  | vn steal-10.5 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent delicia=Theme from clutch=Source |
| 3 | **clutch** |  | Delicia |  |  |  |  |  | nom clutch «act transitive»: poss=agent |

<!-- 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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