---
title: decay — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «decay» in the school dictionary: To rot or break down slowly, as dead plants, animals and food do. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# decay

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** dead plants, process, tooth decay, Leaves, you, old log · **What happens:** rot, break down, do, become, be, cause · **To what, where:** old building, holes, teeth, soil, tooth decay, forest

<!-- .vabout -->
«decay» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [decay in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/decay.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To rot or break down slowly, as dead plants, animals and food do.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decay:m1:1
# text = To rot or break down slowly, as dead plants, animals and food do.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	rot	rot	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	break	break	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
5	down	down	ADP	RP	_	4	compound:prt	_	_
6	slowly	slowly	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
8	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
9	dead	dead	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	plants	plant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	conj	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	_
15	do	do	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **rot** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn entity\_specific\_cos-45.5 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **break down** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | slowly *property* | vn break-45.1 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **do** | present | dead plants and animals and food |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «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 -->
To become weaker or worse over time, like an old building.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decay:m2:1
# text = To become weaker or worse over time, like an old building.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	become	become	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	weaker	weak	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	2	xcomp	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	worse	bad	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	3	conj	_	_
6	over	over	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
9	like	like	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	building	building	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **become** | to-infinitive |  | a old building |  |  |  | weak *property* | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
As a noun, the process of rotting; "tooth decay" is holes in teeth caused by germs and sugar.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decay:m3:1
# text = As a noun, the process of rotting; "tooth decay" is holes in teeth caused by germs and sugar.
1	As	as	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	noun	noun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	process	process	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	appos	_	_
7	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
8	rotting	rot	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
10	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	tooth	tooth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	decay	decay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	_
14	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	cop	_	_
15	holes	hole	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	_
16	in	in	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	teeth	tooth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	nmod	_	_
18	caused	cause	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	17	acl	_	_
19	by	by	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
20	germs	germ	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	obl	_	_
21	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
22	sugar	sugar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **rot** | gerund | the process *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn entity\_specific\_cos-45.5 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **is a** | present | tooth decay | holes |  | teeth |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **cause** | participle |  | teeth *not said here* |  |  |  | by germs and sugar | vn result-27.2 «NP V PP»: agent=Precondition |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Leaves decay and turn into soil.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decay:x1:1
# text = Leaves decay and turn into soil.
1	Leaves	leaf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	decay	decay	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	turn	turn	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
5	into	into	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	soil	soil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **decay** | present | Leaves |  |  |  |  |  | vn entity\_specific\_cos-45.5 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **turn** | present | Leaves *not said here* |  |  | soil |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V PP.trajectory»: agent=Theme into soil=Trajectory |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Brush your teeth to stop tooth decay.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decay:x2:1
# text = Brush your teeth to stop tooth decay.
1	Brush	brush	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	teeth	tooth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	stop	stop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
6	tooth	tooth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	decay	decay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **brush** | imperative | you *not said here* | your teeth |  |  |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent tooth=Theme |
| 2 | **stop** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | tooth decay |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality decay=Eventuality |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The old log was decaying in the forest.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decay:x3:1
# text = The old log was decaying in the forest.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	log	log	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	decaying	decay	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	forest	forest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **decay** | past · progressive | the old log |  |  | the forest |  |  | vn entity\_specific\_cos-45.5 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Worms and fungi help things decay.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decay:x4:1
# text = Worms and fungi help things decay.
1	Worms	worm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	fungi	fungus	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	conj	_	_
4	help	help	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
6	decay	decay	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | present | Worms and fungi | things |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent thing=Beneficiary clause=Theme |
| 2 | **decay** | infinitive | things *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn entity\_specific\_cos-45.5 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The castle has fallen into decay.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decay:x5:1
# text = The castle has fallen into decay.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	castle	castle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	fallen	fall	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	into	into	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	decay	decay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fall** | present · perfect | the castle |  |  |  |  | into decay *result* | vn become-109.1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient into decay=Result |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sugary drinks cause tooth decay.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decay:x6:1
# text = Sugary drinks cause tooth decay.
1	Sugary	sugary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	drinks	drink	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	cause	cause	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	tooth	tooth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	decay	decay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cause** | present | Sugary drinks | tooth decay |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition decay=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
But he feared nothing, except that his plums should decay, and this never happened.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decay:x7:1
# text = But he feared nothing, except that his plums should decay, and this never happened.
1	But	but	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
2	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	feared	fear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	nothing	nothing	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
6	except	except	ADP	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
7	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
8	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	plums	plum	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nsubj	_	_
10	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
11	decay	decay	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
14	this	this	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	16	nsubj	_	_
15	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	16	advmod	_	_
16	happened	happen	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fear** | past | he | nothing |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer nothing=Stimulus |
| 2 | **decay** | should | his plums |  |  |  |  |  | vn entity\_specific\_cos-45.5 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **not** **happen** | past | this |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- 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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