---
title: cult — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «cult» in the school dictionary: A small religious group with unusual beliefs, often controlled by one strong leader; often used as a negative word. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# cult

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** idea, film, band, cult, cult leader, followers · **What happens:** control, use, be, love, become, have · **To what, where:** unusual beliefs, small religious group, cult classic, cult, money, leader · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«cult» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [cult in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/cult.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A small religious group with unusual beliefs, often controlled by one strong leader; often used as a negative word.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cult:m1:1
# text = A small religious group with unusual beliefs, often controlled by one strong leader; often used as a negative word.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	religious	religious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	unusual	unusual	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	beliefs	belief	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	often	often	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	controlled	control	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	acl	_	_
11	by	by	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
12	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	14	nummod	_	_
13	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	leader	leader	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
16	often	often	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
17	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl	_	_
18	as	as	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
19	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
20	negative	negative	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	21	amod	_	_
21	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **control** | participle |  | unusual beliefs *not said here* |  |  |  | by one strong leader; often *property* | vn enforce-63 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **use** | participle |  | a small religious group with unusual beliefs *not said here* |  |  |  | as a negative word; often *property* | 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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Great admiration for a person, thing or idea that is very popular with a group (a cult of fitness).

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cult:m2:1
# text = Great admiration for a person, thing or idea that is very popular with a group (a cult of fitness).
1	Great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	admiration	admiration	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
10	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	13	nsubj	_	_
11	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
12	very	very	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
13	popular	popular	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	acl:relcl	_	_
14	with	with	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	_
17	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	cult	cult	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	appos	_	_
20	of	of	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
21	fitness	fitness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | idea |  |  |  |  | with a group; popular *property* | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Loved by a small group of fans (a cult film).

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cult:m3:1
# text = Loved by a small group of fans (a cult film).
1	Loved	love	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
2	by	by	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	fans	fan	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
8	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	cult	cult	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **love** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | by a small group of fans | vn admire-31.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The film became a cult classic.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cult:x1:1
# text = The film became a cult classic.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	became	become	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	cult	cult	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	classic	classic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **become** | past | the film | a cult classic |  |  |  |  | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The band has a cult following.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cult:x2:1
# text = The band has a cult following.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	band	band	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	cult	cult	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	following	follow	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the band | a cult |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cult=Patient |
| 2 | **follow** | gerund | a cult *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cult leader made his followers give him their money.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cult:x3:1
# text = The cult leader made his followers give him their money.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	cult	cult	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	leader	leader	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	followers	follower	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
7	give	give	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	ccomp	_	_
8	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	iobj	_	_
9	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | the cult leader |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **give** | present | leader's followers | followers's money | leader |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent he=Recipient money=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ancient Romans had many cults for different gods.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cult:x4:1
# text = Ancient Romans had many cults for different gods.
1	Ancient	ancient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	Romans	Roman	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	cults	cult	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	different	different	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	gods	god	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | Ancient Romans | many cults |  |  |  | for different gods | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cult=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
That show is a cult favourite in Australia.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cult:x5:1
# text = That show is a cult favourite in Australia.
1	That	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	2	det	_	_
2	show	show	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	cult	cult	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	favourite	favourite	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	Australia	Australia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Be wary of any group that tells you to keep secrets from family.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cult:x6:1
# text = Be wary of any group that tells you to keep secrets from family.
1	Be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	cop	_	_
2	wary	wary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	csubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	any	any	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	5	det	_	_
5	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	tells	tell	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	iobj	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
11	secrets	secret	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obj	_	_
12	from	from	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | wary *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* | present | any group |  | you |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent you=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 3 | **keep** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | any group *not said here* | secrets |  | family |  |  | vn forbid-64.4 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Causer secret=Beneficiary from family=Eventuality |

<!-- 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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