---
title: cruel — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «cruel» in the school dictionary: Cruel means causing pain or suffering to people or animals on purpose, or not caring when they suffer. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# cruel

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Cruel, pain, It, cruel giant, Laughing, stepsisters · **What happens:** mean, cause, not care, suffer, bear, be · **To what, where:** pain, purpose, animals, children, tower, someone

<!-- .vabout -->
«cruel» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [cruel in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/cruel.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Cruel means causing pain or suffering to people or animals on purpose, or not caring when they suffer.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cruel:m1:1
# text = Cruel means causing pain or suffering to people or animals on purpose, or not caring when they suffer.
1	Cruel	cruel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	causing	cause	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	pain	pain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	suffering	suffering	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	conj	_	_
11	on	on	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	purpose	purpose	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
15	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	16	advmod	_	_
16	caring	care	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	conj	_	_
17	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	19	advmod	_	_
18	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	19	nsubj	_	_
19	suffer	suffer	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Cruel |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **cause** *not said to happen* | gerund | Cruel *not said here* | pain or suffering |  | purpose |  | to people or animals | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition pain=Patient |
| 3 | **not** **care** | gerund | Cruel *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn care-88.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 4 | **suffer** | present | pain |  |  |  |  |  | vn marvel-31.3 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |

<!-- .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 -->
Cruel can mean very hard to bear, as in cruel weather or cruel luck.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cruel:m2:1
# text = Cruel can mean very hard to bear, as in cruel weather or cruel luck.
1	Cruel	cruel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	very	very	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	bear	bear	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
9	as	as	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	cruel	cruel	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	weather	weather	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	parataxis	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
14	cruel	cruel	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	luck	luck	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can | Cruel |  |  |  |  | hard *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **bear** | to-infinitive | Cruel *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It is cruel to hurt animals.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cruel:x1:1
# text = It is cruel to hurt animals.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	cruel	cruel	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	hurt	hurt	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
6	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | It |  |  |  |  | cruel *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **hurt** | to-infinitive |  | animals |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer animal=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cruel giant locked the children in the tower.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cruel:x2:1
# text = The cruel giant locked the children in the tower.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	cruel	cruel	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	giant	giant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	locked	lock	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	tower	tower	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lock** | past | the cruel giant | the children |  | the tower |  |  | vn tape-22.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent child=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Laughing at someone who is sad is cruel.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cruel:x3:1
# text = Laughing at someone who is sad is cruel.
1	Laughing	laugh	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	csubj	_	_
2	at	at	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	1	obl	_	_
4	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	sad	sad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	acl:relcl	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	cruel	cruel	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 | **laugh** | gerund |  |  |  | someone |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | sad *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **is** | present | Laughing |  |  |  |  | cruel *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Cinderella's stepsisters were cruel to her.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cruel:x4:1
# text = Cinderella's stepsisters were cruel to her.
1	Cinderella	Cinderella	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	's	PART	POS	_	1	case	_	_
3	stepsisters	stepsister	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
4	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	cruel	cruel	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | Cinderella's stepsisters |  | Cinderella |  |  | cruel *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The winter was cruel and long.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cruel:x5:1
# text = The winter was cruel and long.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	winter	winter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	cruel	cruel	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the winter |  |  |  |  | cruel *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | the winter *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't be cruel; be kind.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cruel:x6:1
# text = Don't be cruel; be kind.
1	Do	do	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
3	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	cop	_	_
4	cruel	cruel	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
6	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	cop	_	_
7	kind	kind	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **not** **is** | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | cruel *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **is** | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | kind *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It was a cruel twist of fate.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cruel:x7:1
# text = It was a cruel twist of fate.
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	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	cruel	cruel	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	twist	twist	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	fate	fate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | It | a cruel twist |  |  |  | of fate | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
“How could you be so cruel?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cruel:x8:1
# text = “How could you be so cruel?
1	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	How	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	7	advmod	_	_
3	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
5	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	cop	_	_
6	so	so	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	cruel	cruel	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 | **is** *in a quote* | could | you |  |  |  |  | cruel *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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