---
title: dampen — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «dampen» in the school dictionary: To dampen something is to make it a little wet. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# dampen

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** movement, you, rain, bad news, everyone, Thick curtains · **What happens:** dampen, be, wipe, not dampen, excite, plant · **To what, where:** something, feeling, sound, cloth, table, spirits

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To dampen something is to make it a little wet.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dampen:m1:1
# text = To dampen something is to make it a little wet.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	dampen	dampen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	csubj	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	advmod	_	_
10	wet	wet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dampen** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent something=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | make, wet *property* | tree rules |

<!-- .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 -->
To dampen a feeling is to make it weaker or less happy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dampen:m2:1
# text = To dampen a feeling is to make it weaker or less happy.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	dampen	dampen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	advcl	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	feeling	feeling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	make	make	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	weaker	weak	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	7	xcomp	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	less	less	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	12	advmod	_	_
12	happy	happy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dampen** | to-infinitive |  | a feeling |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent feeling=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | make, weak *property* | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To dampen a sound or a movement is to make it quieter or smaller.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dampen:m3:1
# text = To dampen a sound or a movement is to make it quieter or smaller.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	dampen	dampen	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	movement	movement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	conj	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	_
12	quieter	quiet	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	10	xcomp	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	smaller	small	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dampen** | to-infinitive |  | a sound |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent sound=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | present | a movement |  |  |  |  | make, quiet *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dampen the cloth before you wipe the table.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dampen:x1:1
# text = Dampen the cloth before you wipe the table.
1	Dampen	dampen	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	cloth	cloth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	wipe	wipe	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	advcl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	table	table	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dampen** | imperative | you *not said here* | the cloth |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent cloth=Patient |
| 2 | **wipe** | present | you | the table |  |  |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent table=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The rain did not dampen our spirits at sports day.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dampen:x2:1
# text = The rain did not dampen our spirits at sports day.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	dampen	dampen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	spirits	spirit	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
8	at	at	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	sports	sport	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	compound	_	_
10	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **dampen** | past · do-support | the rain | our spirits |  |  | day |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent spirit=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The bad news dampened everyone's excitement.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dampen:x3:1
# text = The bad news dampened everyone's excitement.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	news	news	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	dampened	dampen	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	7	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	's	's	PART	POS	_	5	case	_	_
7	excitement	excitement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dampen** | past | the bad news | everyone's excitement |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent excitement=Patient |
| 2 | **excite** |  | everyone |  |  |  |  |  | nom excitement «feeling transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Thick curtains dampen the noise from the street.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dampen:x4:1
# text = Thick curtains dampen the noise from the street.
1	Thick	thick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	curtains	curtain	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	dampen	dampen	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	noise	noise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	street	street	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dampen** | present | Thick curtains | the noise |  | the street |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent noise=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dampen the soil before you plant the seeds.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dampen:x5:1
# text = Dampen the soil before you plant the seeds.
1	Dampen	dampen	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	soil	soil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	plant	plant	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	advcl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	seeds	seed	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dampen** | imperative | you *not said here* | the soil |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent soil=Patient |
| 2 | **plant** | present | you | the seeds |  |  |  |  | vn establish-55.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent seed=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Nothing could dampen her joy on her birthday.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dampen:x6:1
# text = Nothing could dampen her joy on her birthday.
1	Nothing	nothing	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	3	nsubj	_	_
2	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	dampen	dampen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	joy	joy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	birthday	birthday	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dampen** | could | Nothing | her joy |  | her birthday |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent joy=Patient |
| 2 | **joy** |  | her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom joy «feeling transitive»: poss=agent |

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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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