---
title: crucify — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «crucify» in the school dictionary: To kill someone by nailing or tying them to a cross and leaving them to die — a cruel punishment used in ancient times, especially by the Romans. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# crucify

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** them, newspapers, Christians, Romans, creed, Mum · **What happens:** kill, nail, tie, leave, die, use · **To what, where:** someone, them, cruel punishment, manager, Jesus, criminals · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To kill someone by nailing or tying them to a cross and leaving them to die — a cruel punishment used in ancient times, especially by the Romans.

<!-- fold The tree, 27 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crucify:m1:1
# text = To kill someone by nailing or tying them to a cross and leaving them to die — a cruel punishment used in ancient times, especially by the Romans.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	kill	kill	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
5	nailing	nail	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	tying	tie	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	conj	_	_
8	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	to	to	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	cross	cross	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	leaving	leave	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	conj	_	_
14	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	obj	_	_
15	to	to	PART	TO	_	16	mark	_	_
16	die	die	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	xcomp	_	_
17	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	20	punct	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
19	cruel	cruel	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
20	punishment	punishment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	parataxis	_	_
21	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	20	acl	_	_
22	in	in	ADP	IN	_	24	case	_	_
23	ancient	ancient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	24	amod	_	_
24	times	time	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	21	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	29	punct	_	_
26	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	29	advmod	_	_
27	by	by	ADP	IN	_	29	case	_	_
28	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	29	det	_	_
29	Romans	Roman	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	21	obl:agent	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **kill** | to-infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  |  | vn remove-10.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent someone=Theme |
| 2 | **nail** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn tape-22.4 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **tie** | gerund |  | them *= they* |  |  |  | to a cross | vn mix-22.1-2 «NP V NP PP.co-patient»: agent=Agent they=Patient to cross=Co-Patient |
| 4 | **leave** | gerund |  | them *= they* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **die** | to-infinitive | them *= they* *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1 «NP.attribute V»: agent=Attribute |
| 6 | **use** | participle |  | a cruel punishment *not said here* |  |  | time |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: 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: Bible, church — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Used of Jesus.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crucify:m2:1
# text = Used of Jesus.
1	Used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	Jesus	Jesus	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | of Jesus | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Christians believe Jesus was crucified and rose again on the third day.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crucify:m2e:1
# text = Christians believe Jesus was crucified and rose again on the third day.
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	Jesus	Jesus	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	crucified	crucify	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	ccomp	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	rose	rise	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
8	again	again	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
9	on	on	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	third	third	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	12	amod	_	_
12	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	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 | **crucify** | past · passive |  | Jesus |  |  |  |  | vn poison-42.2 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |
| 3 | **rise** | past |  |  |  |  | again; day |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To criticise someone very harshly or punish them badly: «The newspapers crucified the manager.».

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crucify:m3:1
# text = To criticise someone very harshly or punish them badly: «The newspapers crucified the manager.».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	criticise	criticise	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	advcl	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	very	very	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	harshly	harshly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	punish	punish	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	conj	_	_
8	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	badly	badly	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	2	punct	_	_
11	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	newspapers	newspaper	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	nsubj	_	_
14	crucified	crucify	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	manager	manager	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	14	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **criticise** | to-infinitive | the newspapers *not said here* | someone |  |  |  | harshly *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **punish** | infinitive | the newspapers *not said here* | them *= they* |  |  |  | badly *property* | vn prosecute-33.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent they=Patient |
| 3 | **crucify** *in a quote* | past | the newspapers | the manager |  |  |  |  | vn poison-42.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent manager=Patient |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To beat someone very heavily.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crucify:m4:1
# text = To beat someone very heavily.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	beat	beat	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	very	very	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	heavily	heavily	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **beat** | to-infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  | heavily *property* | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location someone=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Romans crucified criminals as a warning to others.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crucify:x1:1
# text = The Romans crucified criminals as a warning to others.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Romans	Roman	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	crucified	crucify	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	criminals	criminal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	as	as	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	warning	warning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **crucify** | past | the Romans | criminals |  |  |  | as a warning to others | vn poison-42.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent criminal=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Christians believe Jesus was crucified on Good Friday and rose again on Easter Sunday.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crucify:x2:1
# text = Christians believe Jesus was crucified on Good Friday and rose again on Easter Sunday.
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	Jesus	Jesus	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	crucified	crucify	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	ccomp	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	Good	Good	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	flat	_	_
8	Friday	Friday	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	rose	rise	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
11	again	again	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
12	on	on	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	Easter	Easter	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	14	compound	_	_
14	Sunday	Sunday	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	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 | **crucify** | past · passive |  | Jesus |  |  | friday |  | vn poison-42.2 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |
| 3 | **rise** | past |  |  |  |  | again; sunday |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The creed says he was crucified under Pontius Pilate.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crucify:x3:1
# text = The creed says he was crucified under Pontius Pilate.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	creed	creed	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	crucified	crucify	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	ccomp	_	_
7	under	under	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	Pontius	Pontius	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	Pilate	Pilate	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | the creed |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **crucify** | past · passive |  | creed |  | Pontius Pilate |  |  | vn poison-42.2 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Two thieves were crucified beside Jesus.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crucify:x4:1
# text = Two thieves were crucified beside Jesus.
1	Two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	2	nummod	_	_
2	thieves	thief	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	crucified	crucify	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	beside	beside	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	Jesus	Jesus	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **crucify** | past · passive |  | Two thieves |  | Jesus |  |  | vn poison-42.2 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum will crucify me if I lose another coat!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crucify:x5:1
# text = Mum will crucify me if I lose another coat!
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	crucify	crucify	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	lose	lose	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
8	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	9	det	_	_
9	coat	coat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **crucify** | future | Mum | me |  |  |  |  | vn poison-42.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent i=Patient |
| 2 | **lose** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | I | another coat |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent coat=Eventuality |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The critics crucified the new film.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crucify:x6:1
# text = The critics crucified the new film.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	critics	critic	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	crucified	crucify	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **crucify** | past | the critics | the new film |  |  |  |  | vn poison-42.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent film=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We got crucified six–nil in the final.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crucify:x7:1
# text = We got crucified six–nil in the final.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	got	get	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	crucified	crucify	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	six	six	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	–	-	PUNCT	:	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	nil	nil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	final	final	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **crucify** | past · passive |  | We |  | the final |  |  | vn poison-42.2 «NP V NP ADJ»: subject=Patient nil=Result |

<!-- 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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