---
title: cudgel — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «cudgel» in the school dictionary: A short thick stick used as a weapon; a club. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# cudgel

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Badger, robber, Mole, I, her, She · **What happens:** use, hit, cudgel, mean, think, remember · **To what, where:** short thick stick, someone, brains, something, cudgels, argument · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A short thick stick used as a weapon; a club.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cudgel:m1:1
# text = A short thick stick used as a weapon; a club.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	thick	thick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	stick	stick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl	_	_
6	as	as	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	weapon	weapon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	club	club	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | participle |  | a short thick stick and a club *not said here* |  |  |  | as a weapon | 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: verb — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To hit someone with a cudgel.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cudgel:m2:1
# text = To hit someone with a cudgel.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	hit	hit	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	cudgel	cudgel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hit** | to-infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  | with a cudgel | vn hit-18.1-1 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent someone=Patient with cudgel=Instrument |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Cudgel your brains» means think very hard to remember something.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cudgel:m3:1
# text = «Cudgel your brains» means think very hard to remember something.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Cudgel	cudgel	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	csubj	_	_
3	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	brains	brain	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
6	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	think	think	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	ccomp	_	_
8	very	very	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	ccomp	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	remember	remember	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	xcomp	_	_
12	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cudgel** *in a quote* | infinitive |  | your brains |  |  |  |  | vn spank-18.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent brain=Patient |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **think** *speech: other* | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **remember** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent something=Theme |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Take up the cudgels for someone» means defend them strongly in an argument.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cudgel:m4:1
# text = «Take up the cudgels for someone» means defend them strongly in an argument.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Take	take	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	9	nsubj	_	_
3	up	up	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	cudgels	cudgel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
9	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	defend	defend	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	ccomp	_	_
11	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	_
12	strongly	strongly	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	argument	argument	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take up** *in a quote* | infinitive |  | the cudgels |  |  |  | for someone | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent cudgel=Theme for someone=Beneficiary |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **defend** | infinitive |  | cudgels *= cudgel* |  | a argument |  | strongly *property* | vn defend-72.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent they=Beneficiary |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Badger handed each friend a stout cudgel.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cudgel:x1:1
# text = Badger handed each friend a stout cudgel.
1	Badger	Badger	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	handed	hand	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	4	det	_	_
4	friend	friend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	stout	stout	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	cudgel	cudgel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hand** | past | Badger | a stout cudgel | each friend |  |  |  | vn send-11.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent friend=Destination cudgel=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The robber waved a cudgel at the travellers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cudgel:x2:1
# text = The robber waved a cudgel at the travellers.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	robber	robber	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	waved	wave	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	cudgel	cudgel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	travellers	traveller	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wave** | past | the robber | a cudgel |  | the travellers |  |  | vn wink-40.3.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cudgel=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mole ran through the hall waving his cudgel.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cudgel:x3:1
# text = Mole ran through the hall waving his cudgel.
1	Mole	Mole	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	ran	run	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	through	through	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	hall	hall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	waving	wave	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
7	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	cudgel	cudgel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **run** | past | Mole |  |  | the hall |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme through hall=Trajectory |
| 2 | **wave** | gerund | Mole *not said here* | Mole's cudgel |  |  |  |  | vn wink-40.3.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cudgel=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I cudgelled my brains but could not remember her name.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cudgel:x4:1
# text = I cudgelled my brains but could not remember her name.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	cudgelled	cudgell	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	brains	brain	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
6	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
7	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
8	remember	remember	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	conj	_	_
9	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cudgell** | past | I | my brains |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **remember** | could | I *not said here* | her name |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent name=Theme |
| 3 | **name** |  | her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom name «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She took up the cudgels for her little brother in the argument.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cudgel:x5:1
# text = She took up the cudgels for her little brother in the argument.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	up	up	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	cudgels	cudgel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
8	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	argument	argument	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take up** | past | She | the cudgels |  | the argument |  | for her little brother | vn fit-54.3 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent cudgel=Value in argument=Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The guard carried a heavy cudgel.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cudgel:x6:1
# text = The guard carried a heavy cudgel.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	guard	guard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	carried	carry	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	heavy	heavy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	cudgel	cudgel	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 | **carry** | past | the guard | a heavy cudgel |  |  |  |  | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cudgel=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
How can I forget the blow with the cudgel?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cudgel:x7:1
# text = How can I forget the blow with the cudgel?
1	How	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	4	advmod	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	forget	forget	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	blow	blow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	cudgel	cudgel	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 | **forget** | can | I | the blow |  |  |  | with the cudgel | 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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