---
title: curtsey — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «curtsey» in the school dictionary: A polite movement made by girls and women, bending the knees with one foot behind the other, to show respect, for example to a queen or at the end of a performance. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# curtsey

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** polite movement, Alice, ballet dancers, She, Queen, maid · **What happens:** make, bend, show, try, curtsey, fall · **To what, where:** polite movement, knees, other, respect, queen, curtsey · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A polite movement made by girls and women, bending the knees with one foot behind the other, to show respect, for example to a queen or at the end of a performance.

<!-- fold The tree, 32 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:curtsey:m1:1
# text = A polite movement made by girls and women, bending the knees with one foot behind the other, to show respect, for example to a queen or at the end of a performance.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	polite	polite	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	movement	movement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	nsubj	_	_
4	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	girls	girl	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	women	woman	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	bending	bend	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	knees	knee	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obj	_	_
13	with	with	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	15	nummod	_	_
15	foot	foot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	_
16	behind	behind	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
20	to	to	PART	TO	_	21	mark	_	_
21	show	show	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
22	respect	respect	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	25	punct	_	_
24	for	for	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
25	example	example	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	obl	_	_
26	to	to	ADP	IN	_	28	case	_	_
27	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	28	det	_	_
28	queen	queen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	obl	_	_
29	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	32	cc	_	_
30	at	at	ADP	IN	_	32	case	_	_
31	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	32	det	_	_
32	end	end	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	28	conj	_	_
33	of	of	ADP	IN	_	35	case	_	_
34	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	35	det	_	_
35	performance	performance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	32	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
36	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	21	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | participle |  | a polite movement *not said here* |  |  |  | by girls and women | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 2 | **bend** | gerund |  | the knees |  | the other |  | with one foot | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V NP.theme PP»: agent=Agent knee=Theme behind other=Location |
| 3 | **show** | to-infinitive | a polite movement | respect | a queen or the end of a performance |  |  | for example | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent respect=Topic to queen=Recipient |

<!-- .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 make a curtsey.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:curtsey:m2:1
# text = To make a curtsey.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	make	make	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	curtsey	curtsey	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | to-infinitive |  | a curtsey |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset curtsey=Product |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Alice tried to curtsey as she fell.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:curtsey:x1:1
# text = Alice tried to curtsey as she fell.
1	Alice	Alice	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	tried	try	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	curtsey	curtsey	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	fell	fall	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | past | Alice |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **curtsey** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | Alice *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn curtsey-40.3.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **fall** | past | Alice |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The ballet dancers curtseyed to the audience.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:curtsey:x2:1
# text = The ballet dancers curtseyed to the audience.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	ballet	ballet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	dancers	dancer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	curtseyed	curtsey	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	audience	audience	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 | **curtsey** | past | the ballet dancers |  | the audience |  |  |  | vn curtsey-40.3.3 «NP V PP.recipient»: agent=Agent to audience=Recipient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She curtseyed to the Queen and the Queen smiled.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:curtsey:x3:1
# text = She curtseyed to the Queen and the Queen smiled.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	curtseyed	curtsey	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	Queen	Queen	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	Queen	Queen	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	smiled	smile	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **curtsey** | past | She |  | the Queen |  |  |  | vn curtsey-40.3.3 «NP V PP.recipient»: agent=Agent to queen=Recipient |
| 2 | **smile** | past | the Queen |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The maid bobbed a curtsey and left the room.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:curtsey:x4:1
# text = The maid bobbed a curtsey and left the room.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	maid	maid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	bobbed	bob	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	curtsey	curtsey	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	left	leave	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	room	room	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **bob** | past | the maid | a curtsey |  |  |  |  | vn braid-41.2.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent curtsey=Patient |
| 2 | **leave** | past | the maid *not said here* | the room |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent room=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Bow or curtsey when the music stops.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:curtsey:x5:1
# text = Bow or curtsey when the music stops.
1	Bow	bow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
2	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	curtsey	curtsey	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	conj	_	_
4	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	7	advmod	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	music	music	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	stops	stop	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | present | Bow or curtsey |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Alice made a little curtsey to the Duchess.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:curtsey:x6:1
# text = Alice made a little curtsey to the Duchess.
1	Alice	Alice	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	curtsey	curtsey	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	Duchess	Duchess	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | Alice | a little curtsey |  |  |  | to the Duchess | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent curtsey=Product |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
‘If you please, sire,’ said the Princess, dropping a curtsey.

<!-- fold The tree, 10 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:curtsey:x7:1
# text = ‘If you please, sire,’ said the Princess, dropping a curtsey.
1	‘	'	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
3	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
4	please	please	INTJ	UH	_	6	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	sire	sire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	’	'	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
9	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	Princess	Princess	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
13	dropping	drop	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	9	advcl	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	curtsey	curtsey	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sire** *a condition, not said to happen* |  | you |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | the Princess |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **drop** | gerund | the Princess *not said here* | a curtsey |  |  |  |  | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent curtsey=Theme |

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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.

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