---
title: cowardly — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «cowardly» in the school dictionary: Cowardly means not brave, too afraid to face danger, pain or something difficult. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# cowardly

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Cowardly, cowardly act, person, Cowardly Lion, Picking, It · **What happens:** mean, face, be, avoid, attack, hide · **To what, where:** danger, risk, someone, others, little brother, attack · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Cowardly means not brave, too afraid to face danger, pain or something difficult.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cowardly:m1:1
# text = Cowardly means not brave, too afraid to face danger, pain or something difficult.
1	Cowardly	cowardly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	brave	brave	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
6	too	too	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	afraid	afraid	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	face	face	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
10	danger	danger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	pain	pain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	10	conj	_	_
15	difficult	difficult	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Cowardly |  |  |  |  | brave *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **face** | to-infinitive | Cowardly *not said here* | danger and pain |  |  |  |  | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme danger=Destination |

<!-- .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 cowardly act is mean and unfair because the person avoids risk, such as attacking someone weaker or hiding behind others.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cowardly:m2:1
# text = A cowardly act is mean and unfair because the person avoids risk, such as attacking someone weaker or hiding behind others.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	cowardly	cowardly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	act	act	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	mean	mean	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	unfair	unfair	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	_
8	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
11	avoids	avoid	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	advcl	_	_
12	risk	risk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
14	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=SCONJ	16	mark	_	_
15	as	as	ADP	IN	_	14	fixed	_	_
16	attacking	attack	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	12	conj	_	_
17	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	16	obj	_	_
18	weaker	weak	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	17	amod	_	_
19	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
20	hiding	hide	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	16	conj	_	_
21	behind	behind	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
22	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a cowardly act |  |  |  |  | mean *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | a cowardly act *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **avoid** | present | the person | risk |  |  |  |  | vn avoid-52 «NP V NP.location»: agent=Agent risk=Location |
| 4 | **attack** | gerund | the person *not said here* | someone |  |  |  |  | vn attack-60.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent someone=Patient |
| 5 | **hide** | gerund | the person *not said here* |  |  | others |  |  | vn concealment-16-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent behind other=Location |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Cowardly Lion wanted to be brave.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cowardly:x1:1
# text = The Cowardly Lion wanted to be brave.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	Cowardly	Cowardly	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	Lion	Lion	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	wanted	want	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
6	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	cop	_	_
7	brave	brave	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **want** | past | the Cowardly Lion |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADJ»: agent=Pivot |
| 2 | **is** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | the Cowardly Lion *not said here* |  |  |  |  | brave *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Picking on a younger child is cowardly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cowardly:x2:1
# text = Picking on a younger child is cowardly.
1	Picking	pick	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	csubj	_	_
2	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	younger	young	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	5	amod	_	_
5	child	child	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	cowardly	cowardly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pick** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | on a younger child | vn chew-39.2 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent on child=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | present | Picking |  |  |  |  | cowardly *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It was cowardly of him to blame his little brother.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cowardly:x3:1
# text = It was cowardly of him to blame his little brother.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	cowardly	cowardly	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	blame	blame	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl	_	_
8	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
9	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | It |  |  |  |  | of him *= he*; cowardly *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **blame** | to-infinitive |  | his little brother |  |  |  |  | vn judgment-33.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent brother=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sam thought refusing to fight was cowardly, but his dad said it was wise.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cowardly:x4:1
# text = Sam thought refusing to fight was cowardly, but his dad said it was wise.
1	Sam	Sam	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	thought	think	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	refusing	refuse	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	csubj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	fight	fight	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	cowardly	cowardly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
9	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
10	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
12	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	expl	_	_
14	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	15	cop	_	_
15	wise	wise	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **think** *speech: other* | past | Sam |  |  |  |  |  | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **refuse** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn reject-77.2 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 3 | **not** **fight** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn battle-36.4-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **is** | past | refusing |  |  |  |  | cowardly *property* | tree rules |
| 5 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | Sam's dad |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 6 | **is** | past |  |  |  |  |  | wise *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The newspaper called the attack cowardly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cowardly:x5:1
# text = The newspaper called the attack cowardly.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	newspaper	newspaper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	attack	attack	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	xcomp	_	_
6	cowardly	cowardly	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | participle | the newspaper *not said here* | the attack |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sending nasty messages without a name is cowardly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cowardly:x6:1
# text = Sending nasty messages without a name is cowardly.
1	Sending	send	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	csubj	_	_
2	nasty	nasty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	messages	message	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	without	without	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	cowardly	cowardly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **send** | gerund |  | nasty messages |  |  |  | without a name | vn confine-92-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent message=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present | Sending |  |  |  |  | cowardly *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
“They are the Kalidahs!” said the Cowardly Lion, beginning to tremble.

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cowardly:x7:1
# text = “They are the Kalidahs!” said the Cowardly Lion, beginning to tremble.
1	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	Kalidahs	Kalidahs	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
8	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	Cowardly	cowardly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	Lion	Lion	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
13	beginning	begin	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	8	advcl	_	_
14	to	to	PART	TO	_	15	mark	_	_
15	tremble	tremble	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** *in a quote* | present | They | the Kalidahs |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: express* | past | the Kalidahs |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **begin** | gerund | the Kalidahs *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 4 | **tremble** | to-infinitive | the Kalidahs *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn modes\_of\_being\_with\_motion-47.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- 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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