---
title: curt — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «curt» in the school dictionary: Curt means rudely short: a curt reply uses very few words and sounds cold or unfriendly. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# curt

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Curt, curt reply, she, me, His, shopkeeper · **What happens:** mean, use, say, make, feel, ask · **To what, where:** few words, curt voice, me, curt nod, us, coach · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«curt» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [curt in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/curt.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Curt means rudely short: a curt reply uses very few words and sounds cold or unfriendly.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:curt:m1:1
# text = Curt means rudely short: a curt reply uses very few words and sounds cold or unfriendly.
1	Curt	curt	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	rudely	rudely	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	curt	curt	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	reply	reply	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	uses	use	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	_
10	very	very	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
11	few	few	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	sounds	sound	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	conj	_	_
15	cold	cold	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	unfriendly	unfriendly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Curt |  |  |  |  | short *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **use** | present | a curt reply | few words and sounds |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent word=Patient |

<!-- .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: rare — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Curt can mean simply brief or short.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:curt:m2:1
# text = Curt can mean simply brief or short.
1	Curt	Curt	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	simply	simply	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	brief	brief	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can | Curt |  |  |  |  | brief *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«No,» she said in a curt voice.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:curt:x1:1
# text = «No,» she said in a curt voice.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	No	no	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Neg	6	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
5	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	curt	curt	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	voice	voice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | she |  |  | a curt voice |  |  | vn pronounce-29.3.1 «NP V NP PP.manner»: agent=Agent in voice=Manner |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His curt reply made me feel silly for asking.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:curt:x2:1
# text = His curt reply made me feel silly for asking.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	curt	curt	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	reply	reply	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	obj	_	_
6	feel	feel	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	silly	silly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	_
8	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
9	asking	ask	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | His curt reply | me |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **feel** | infinitive | me *not said here* |  |  |  |  | silly *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 3 | **ask** *speech: ask* | gerund | me *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **reply** |  | His *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom reply «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The shopkeeper gave us a curt nod.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:curt:x3:1
# text = The shopkeeper gave us a curt nod.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	shopkeeper	shopkeeper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	iobj	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	curt	curt	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	nod	nod	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | the shopkeeper | a curt nod | us |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent we=Recipient nod=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Try not to be curt with your little sister.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:curt:x4:1
# text = Try not to be curt with your little sister.
1	Try	try	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
4	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	cop	_	_
5	curt	curt	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	xcomp	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
8	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	sister	sister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **not** **is** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | with your little sister; curt *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The email was curt: «Not today.»

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:curt:x5:1
# text = The email was curt: «Not today.»
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	email	email	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	curt	curt	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
6	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	Not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
8	today	today	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the email |  |  |  | today | curt *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The coach was curt after the team lost.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:curt:x6:1
# text = The coach was curt after the team lost.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	coach	coach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	curt	curt	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	after	after	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	lost	lose	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **curt** | past · passive |  | the coach |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **lose** | past | the team |  |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I'm sorry I was so curt with you this morning.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:curt:x7:1
# text = I'm sorry I was so curt with you this morning.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	'm	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	sorry	sorry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	so	so	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	curt	curt	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	ccomp	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	obl	_	_
10	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	11	det	_	_
11	morning	morning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | I |  |  |  | morning | sorry *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | past | I |  |  |  |  | with you; curt *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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