---
title: coffin — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «coffin» in the school dictionary: A long box in which a dead person is buried or cremated. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# coffin

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** vampire, idiom, family · **What happens:** bury, cremate, help, end, ruin, carry · **To what, where:** dead person, long box, something, coffin, church, Egyptian mummies · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A long box in which a dead person is buried or cremated.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:coffin:m1:1
# text = A long box in which a dead person is buried or cremated.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	box	box	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	10	obl	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	dead	dead	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj:pass	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux:pass	_	_
10	buried	bury	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl:relcl	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	cremated	cremate	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **bury** | present · passive |  | a dead person |  | a long box |  |  | vn put-9.1-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: subject=Theme in which=Destination |
| 2 | **cremate** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn remedy-45.7 «NP V NP.patient»: 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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A nail in the coffin: something that helps to end or ruin something.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:coffin:m2:1
# text = A nail in the coffin: something that helps to end or ruin something.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	nail	nail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	coffin	coffin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
8	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
9	helps	help	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	end	end	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	xcomp	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	ruin	ruin	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	conj	_	_
14	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **end** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |
| 3 | **ruin** | infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn destroy-44 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The coffin was carried into the church.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:coffin:x1:1
# text = The coffin was carried into the church.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	coffin	coffin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	carried	carry	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	into	into	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	church	church	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **carry** | past · passive |  | the coffin |  | the church |  |  | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Egyptian mummies were placed in painted coffins.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:coffin:x2:1
# text = Egyptian mummies were placed in painted coffins.
1	Egyptian	Egyptian	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	mummies	mummy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	placed	place	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	painted	paint	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	amod	_	_
7	coffins	coffin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **place** | past · passive |  | Egyptian mummies |  | painted coffins |  |  | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: subject=Theme in coffin=Destination |
| 2 | **paint** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn image\_impression-25.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the story, the vampire climbed out of his coffin.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:coffin:x3:1
# text = In the story, the vampire climbed out of his coffin.
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	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	vampire	vampire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	climbed	climb	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	out	out	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	coffin	coffin	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 | **climb** | past | the vampire |  |  | the story |  | out vampire's coffin | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in story=Trajectory |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
(idiom) Losing their best player was the final nail in the coffin for the team.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:coffin:x4:1
# text = (idiom) Losing their best player was the final nail in the coffin for the team.
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	idiom	idiom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
4	Losing	lose	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	acl	_	_
5	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
6	best	good	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	7	amod	_	_
7	player	player	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
8	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	final	final	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	nail	nail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	coffin	coffin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	_
15	for	for	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lose** | gerund | idiom *not said here* | their best player |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent player=Eventuality |
| 2 | **is a** | past | idiom | the final nail |  | the coffin for the team |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The family put flowers on the coffin.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:coffin:x5:1
# text = The family put flowers on the coffin.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	put	put	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	flowers	flower	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	coffin	coffin	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 | **put** | past | the family | flowers |  | the coffin |  |  | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V PP.destination NP»: agent=Agent flower=Theme on coffin=Destination |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandad's coffin was made of oak.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:coffin:x6:1
# text = Grandad's coffin was made of oak.
1	Grandad	Grandad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	's	PART	POS	_	1	case	_	_
3	coffin	coffin	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	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	oak	oak	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past · passive |  | Grandad's coffin |  |  |  | of oak | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: subject=Product |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Says the father-in-law from his coffin:

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:coffin:x7:1
# text = Says the father-in-law from his coffin:
1	Says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
3	father	father	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	law	law	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	ccomp	_	_
8	from	from	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	coffin	coffin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=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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