---
title: cruelty — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «cruelty» in the school dictionary: Cruelty is behaviour that causes pain or suffering to people or animals on purpose, or without caring. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# cruelty

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Cruelty behaviour, cruelty, king, Bullying, Shampoo, story · **What happens:** be, cause, care, label, not test, show · **To what, where:** Cruelty behaviour, pain, purpose, cruel action, form, cruelty · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Cruelty is behaviour that causes pain or suffering to people or animals on purpose, or without caring.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cruelty:m1:1
# text = Cruelty is behaviour that causes pain or suffering to people or animals on purpose, or without caring.
1	Cruelty	cruelty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	behaviour	behaviour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	5	nsubj	_	_
5	causes	cause	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	acl:relcl	_	_
6	pain	pain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	suffering	suffering	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
9	to	to	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	conj	_	_
13	on	on	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	purpose	purpose	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
17	without	without	SCONJ	IN	_	18	mark	_	_
18	caring	care	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present |  | Cruelty behaviour |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **cause** | present | Cruelty behaviour | pain or suffering |  | purpose |  | to people or animals | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition pain=Patient |
| 3 | **care** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn care-88.1-1 «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 -->
A cruelty is a cruel action.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cruelty:m2:1
# text = A cruelty is a cruel action.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cruelty	cruelty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	cruel	cruel	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	action	action	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a cruelty | a cruel action |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Cruelty to animals is against the law.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cruelty:x1:1
# text = Cruelty to animals is against the law.
1	Cruelty	cruelty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
2	to	to	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	nmod	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	against	against	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	law	law	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Cruelty to animals |  |  |  |  | against the law | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The king was famous for his cruelty.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cruelty:x2:1
# text = The king was famous for his cruelty.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	king	king	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	famous	famous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	cruelty	cruelty	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 | **is** | past | the king |  |  |  |  | for king's cruelty; famous *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Bullying is a form of cruelty.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cruelty:x3:1
# text = Bullying is a form of cruelty.
1	Bullying	bullying	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	form	form	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	cruelty	cruelty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Bullying | a form |  |  |  | of cruelty | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Shampoo labelled «cruelty-free» was not tested on animals.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cruelty:x4:1
# text = Shampoo labelled «cruelty-free» was not tested on animals.
1	Shampoo	shampoo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	labelled	label	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	cruelty	cruelty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	free	free	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	_
8	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux:pass	_	_
9	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
10	tested	test	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	conj	_	_
11	on	on	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **label** | past | Shampoo |  |  |  |  |  | vn butter-9.9 «NP V NP.destination»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **not** **test** | past · passive | Shampoo *not said here* |  |  |  |  | on animals | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP» |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The story shows the cruelty of war.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cruelty:x5:1
# text = The story shows the cruelty of war.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	shows	show	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	cruelty	cruelty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	war	war	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | present | the story | the cruelty of war |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent cruelty=Recipient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She could not believe the cruelty of his words.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cruelty:x6:1
# text = She could not believe the cruelty of his words.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	believe	believe	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	cruelty	cruelty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **believe** | could | She | the cruelty of his words |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer cruelty=Stimulus |
| 2 | **word** |  | his *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom word «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Kindness is the opposite of cruelty.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cruelty:x7:1
# text = Kindness is the opposite of cruelty.
1	Kindness	kindness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	opposite	opposite	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	cruelty	cruelty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Kindness | the opposite |  |  |  | of cruelty | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
“Oh! my dear daughter,” he cried, kissing her, “can you ever forget my cruelty?

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cruelty:x8:1
# text = “Oh! my dear daughter,” he cried, kissing her, “can you ever forget my cruelty?
1	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Oh	oh	INTJ	UH	_	6	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
4	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
5	dear	dear	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	daughter	daughter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
9	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	cried	cry	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	kissing	kiss	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	10	advcl	_	_
13	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
15	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	19	aux	_	_
17	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	19	nsubj	_	_
18	ever	ever	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	19	advmod	_	_
19	forget	forget	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	conj	_	_
20	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	21	nmod:poss	_	_
21	cruelty	cruelty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cry** *speech: express* | past | my dear daughter |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **kiss** | gerund | my dear daughter *not said here* | daughter |  |  |  |  | vn marry-36.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent she=Co-Agent |
| 3 | **forget** *in a quote* | can | you | my cruelty |  |  | ever |  | tree rules |

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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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