---
title: comfrey — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «comfrey» in the school dictionary: A tall wild plant with large hairy leaves and bell-shaped purple, pink or white flowers, growing in damp places by rivers and ditches. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# comfrey

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** tall wild plant, leaves, Comfrey, Bees, Grandad, People · **What happens:** shape, grow, use, break, feed, buzz · **To what, where:** damp places, leaves, past, soil, edge, purple comfrey flowers · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«comfrey» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [comfrey in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/comfrey.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A tall wild plant with large hairy leaves and bell-shaped purple, pink or white flowers, growing in damp places by rivers and ditches.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:comfrey:m1:1
# text = A tall wild plant with large hairy leaves and bell-shaped purple, pink or white flowers, growing in damp places by rivers and ditches.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	tall	tall	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	wild	wild	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	plant	plant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
7	hairy	hairy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	leaves	leaf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
10	bell	bell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	shaped	shape	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	18	amod	_	_
13	purple	purple	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
15	pink	pink	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	conj	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	conj	_	_
18	flowers	flower	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
20	growing	grow	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	acl	_	_
21	in	in	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
22	damp	damp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	23	amod	_	_
23	places	place	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	obl	_	_
24	by	by	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
25	rivers	river	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	obl	_	_
26	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	27	cc	_	_
27	ditches	ditch	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	25	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shape** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 2 | **grow** | gerund | a tall wild plant with large hairy leaves and shaped purple flowers *not said here* |  |  | damp places |  | by rivers and ditches | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in place=Location |

<!-- .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 -->
The leaves or root of this plant, used in the past as a herbal medicine for bruises and broken bones, and by gardeners to feed the soil.

<!-- fold The tree, 27 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:comfrey:m2:1
# text = The leaves or root of this plant, used in the past as a herbal medicine for bruises and broken bones, and by gardeners to feed the soil.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	leaves	leaf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	27	nsubj	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	root	root	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	7	det	_	_
7	plant	plant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	past	past	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
13	as	as	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	herbal	herbal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	medicine	medicine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
17	for	for	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
18	bruises	bruise	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	nmod	_	_
19	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
20	broken	break	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	21	amod	_	_
21	bones	bone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	27	punct	_	_
23	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	27	cc	_	_
24	by	by	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
25	gardeners	gardener	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	27	obl	_	_
26	to	to	PART	TO	_	27	mark	_	_
27	feed	feed	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
28	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	29	det	_	_
29	soil	soil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	27	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	27	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | participle |  | the leaves or root of this plant *not said here* |  | the past |  | as a herbal medicine for bruises and broken bones | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **break** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **feed** | to-infinitive | the leaves or root of this plant | the soil |  |  |  | by gardeners | vn feeding-39.7 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent soil=Recipient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Comfrey grew thick along the edge of the stream.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:comfrey:x1:1
# text = Comfrey grew thick along the edge of the stream.
1	Comfrey	comfrey	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	grew	grow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	thick	thick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
4	along	along	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	edge	edge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	stream	stream	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grow** | past | Comfrey |  |  | the edge of the stream |  | thick *property* | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme along edge=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Bees buzzed around the purple comfrey flowers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:comfrey:x2:1
# text = Bees buzzed around the purple comfrey flowers.
1	Bees	bee	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	buzzed	buzz	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	around	around	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	purple	purple	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	comfrey	comfrey	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	flowers	flower	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **buzz** | past | Bees |  |  | the purple comfrey flowers |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme around flower=Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandad soaks comfrey leaves in water to feed his tomatoes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:comfrey:x3:1
# text = Grandad soaks comfrey leaves in water to feed his tomatoes.
1	Grandad	Grandad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	soaks	soak	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	comfrey	comfrey	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	leaves	leaf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	feed	feed	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
9	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	tomatoes	tomato	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **soak** | present | Grandad | comfrey leaves |  |  |  | in water | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent leaf=Destination in water=Theme |
| 2 | **feed** | to-infinitive | Grandad *not said here* | Grandad's tomatoes |  |  |  |  | vn feeding-39.7 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tomato=Recipient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
People once called comfrey «knitbone».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:comfrey:x4:1
# text = People once called comfrey «knitbone».
1	People	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	once	once	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	3	advmod	_	_
3	called	call	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	comfrey	comfrey	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	xcomp	_	_
5	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	knitbone	knitbone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | past | People | comfrey |  |  |  | once *property* | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Mole saw comfrey and willow-herb on the river bank.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:comfrey:x5:1
# text = The Mole saw comfrey and willow-herb on the river bank.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Mole	mole	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	saw	see	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	comfrey	comfrey	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
6	willow	willow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	herb	herb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
9	on	on	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	river	river	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	bank	bank	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **see** | past | the Mole | comfrey and willow herb |  | the river bank |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer comfrey=Stimulus |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't eat comfrey – it is not safe as food.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:comfrey:x6:1
# text = Don't eat comfrey – it is not safe as food.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	eat	eat	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	comfrey	comfrey	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	–	-	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
9	safe	safe	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	parataxis	_	_
10	as	as	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **eat** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | comfrey |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent comfrey=Patient |
| 2 | **not** **is** | present | comfrey |  |  |  |  | as food; safe *property* | tree rules |

<!-- 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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