---
title: deafness — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «deafness» in the school dictionary: Deafness is being unable to hear, or being able to hear only a little. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# deafness

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Deafness, Beethoven, Loud music, Grandpa, doctor, Ear defenders · **What happens:** be, hear, mean, refuse, listen, keep · **To what, where:** little, music, deafness, sign language, home, partial deafness · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Deafness is being unable to hear, or being able to hear only a little.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deafness:m1:1
# text = Deafness is being unable to hear, or being able to hear only a little.
1	Deafness	deafness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	cop	_	_
4	unable	unable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	hear	hear	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	10	cop	_	_
10	able	able	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	hear	hear	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	xcomp	_	_
13	only	only	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Deafness |  |  |  |  | unable *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **hear** | to-infinitive | Deafness *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V PP.stimulus»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **is** | gerund | Deafness *not said here* |  |  |  |  | able *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **hear** | to-infinitive | Deafness *not said here* | a little |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer little=Stimulus |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Deafness can mean refusing to listen to something, as in «deafness to their pleas».

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deafness:m2:1
# text = Deafness can mean refusing to listen to something, as in «deafness to their pleas».
1	Deafness	deafness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	refusing	refuse	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	xcomp	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	listen	listen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
10	as	as	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	deafness	deafness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	appos	_	_
14	to	to	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	16	nmod:poss	_	_
16	pleas	plea	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can | Deafness |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **refuse** *not said to happen* | gerund | Deafness *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn reject-77.2 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 3 | **listen** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | Deafness *not said here* |  |  |  |  | to something | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent to something=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Beethoven kept writing music despite his deafness.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deafness:x1:1
# text = Beethoven kept writing music despite his deafness.
1	Beethoven	beethoven	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	kept	keep	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	writing	write	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	music	music	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	despite	despite	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	deafness	deafness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | past | Beethoven |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **write** | gerund | Beethoven *not said here* | music |  |  |  | despite Beethoven's deafness | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent music=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Loud music through headphones can cause deafness over time.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deafness:x2:1
# text = Loud music through headphones can cause deafness over time.
1	Loud	loud	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	music	music	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	through	through	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	headphones	headphone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
5	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	cause	cause	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	deafness	deafness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
8	over	over	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cause** | can | Loud music through headphones | deafness |  |  | time |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition deafness=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her deafness meant she used sign language at home.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deafness:x3:1
# text = Her deafness meant she used sign language at home.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	deafness	deafness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	meant	mean	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
6	sign	sign	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	language	language	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	home	home	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | past | Her deafness |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **use** | past | deafness | sign language |  | home |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent language=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandpa has partial deafness and wears a hearing aid.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deafness:x4:1
# text = Grandpa has partial deafness and wears a hearing aid.
1	Grandpa	Grandpa	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	partial	partial	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	deafness	deafness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	wears	wear	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	hearing	hearing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	aid	aid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Grandpa | partial deafness |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent deafness=Patient |
| 2 | **wear** | present | Grandpa *not said here* | a hearing aid |  |  |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.source»: agent=Agent aid=Source |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The doctor tested the baby for deafness.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deafness:x5:1
# text = The doctor tested the baby for deafness.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	doctor	doctor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	tested	test	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	deafness	deafness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **test** | past | the doctor | the baby |  |  |  | for deafness | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Agent baby=Theme for deafness=Attribute |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ear defenders protect workers from deafness.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deafness:x6:1
# text = Ear defenders protect workers from deafness.
1	Ear	ear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	defenders	defender	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	protect	protect	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	workers	worker	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	deafness	deafness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **protect** | present | Ear defenders | workers |  |  |  | from deafness | vn defend-72.3 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent worker=Beneficiary from deafness=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The king's deafness to the people's complaints led to trouble.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deafness:x7:1
# text = The king's deafness to the people's complaints led to trouble.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	king	king	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	deafness	deafness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	's	PART	POS	_	7	case	_	_
9	complaints	complaint	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
10	led	lead	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	trouble	trouble	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lead** | past | the king's deafness to the people's complaints |  |  |  |  |  | vn result-27.2 «NP V PP»: agent=Precondition |
| 2 | **complain** |  | the people |  |  |  |  |  | nom complaint «state intransitive»: poss=agent |

<!-- 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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