---
title: deceive — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «deceive» in the school dictionary: To deceive someone means to make them believe something that is not true, in order to trick them. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# deceive

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** them, you, Things, Looks, fox, Scam emails · **What happens:** deceive, mean, make, believe, not be, trick · **To what, where:** someone, them, something, yourself, truth, us · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To deceive someone means to make them believe something that is not true, in order to trick them.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deceive:m1:1
# text = To deceive someone means to make them believe something that is not true, in order to trick them.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	deceive	deceive	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	csubj	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	believe	believe	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
9	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	obj	_	_
10	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	13	nsubj	_	_
11	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
12	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	13	advmod	_	_
13	true	true	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
15	in	in	SCONJ	IN	ExtPos=SCONJ	18	mark	_	_
16	order	order	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	fixed	_	_
17	to	to	PART	TO	_	18	mark	_	_
18	trick	trick	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	8	parataxis	_	_
19	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	18	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **deceive** | to-infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  |  | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent someone=Patient |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **make** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | them *= they* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **believe** *not said to happen* | infinitive | them *= they* *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer something=Stimulus |
| 5 | **not** **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | true *property* | tree rules |
| 6 | **trick** | to-infinitive |  | them *= they* |  |  |  |  | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent they=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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To deceive yourself means to refuse to believe a truth you don't like.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deceive:m2:1
# text = To deceive yourself means to refuse to believe a truth you don't like.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	deceive	deceive	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	csubj	_	_
3	yourself	yourself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=2|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	2	obj	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	refuse	refuse	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	believe	believe	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	truth	truth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
11	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
12	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	14	advmod	_	_
14	like	like	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **deceive** | to-infinitive |  | yourself |  |  |  |  | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent yourself=Patient |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **refuse** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn reject-77.2 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 4 | **believe** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | a truth |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer truth=Stimulus |
| 5 | **not** **like** | present · do-support | you | a truth *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot truth=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Things can deceive us too: «Looks can deceive.».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deceive:m3:1
# text = Things can deceive us too: «Looks can deceive.».
1	Things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	deceive	deceive	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	too	too	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
7	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	Looks	look	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	_
9	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	deceive	deceive	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **deceive** | can | Things | us |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **deceive** *in a quote* | can | Looks |  |  |  |  |  | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The fox deceived the crow to get the cheese.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deceive:x1:1
# text = The fox deceived the crow to get the cheese.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fox	fox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	deceived	deceive	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	crow	crow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	cheese	cheese	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 | **deceive** | past | the fox | the crow |  |  |  |  | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent crow=Patient |
| 2 | **get** | to-infinitive | the fox *not said here* | the cheese |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer cheese=Stimulus |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scam emails try to deceive people into sending money.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deceive:x2:1
# text = Scam emails try to deceive people into sending money.
1	Scam	scam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	emails	email	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	try	try	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	deceive	deceive	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
7	into	into	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
8	sending	send	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	advcl	_	_
9	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | present | Scam emails |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **deceive** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | Scam emails *not said here* | people |  |  |  |  | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent people=Patient |
| 3 | **send** | gerund | Scam emails *not said here* | money |  |  |  |  | vn confine-92-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent money=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't be deceived by the small size — it's heavy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deceive:x3:1
# text = Don't be deceived by the small size — it's heavy.
1	Do	do	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
3	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	deceived	deceive	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	1	advcl	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	size	size	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
9	—	-	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
12	heavy	heavy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **not** **deceive** | infinitive · passive | the small size |  |  |  |  |  | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is** | present | size |  |  |  |  | heavy *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Looks can be deceiving.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deceive:x4:1
# text = Looks can be deceiving.
1	Looks	look	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	aux	_	_
4	deceiving	deceive	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **deceive** | can · progressive | Looks |  |  |  |  |  | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He deceived his friends about where he was.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deceive:x5:1
# text = He deceived his friends about where he was.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	deceived	deceive	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	friends	friend	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	about	about	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
6	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	8	advmod	_	_
7	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	was	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **deceive** | past | He | his friends |  |  |  |  | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent friend=Patient |
| 2 | **be** | past | he |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Never try to deceive your parents about your safety.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deceive:x6:1
# text = Never try to deceive your parents about your safety.
1	Never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	try	try	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	deceive	deceive	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	parents	parent	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
7	about	about	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	safety	safety	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **try** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **deceive** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | your parents |  |  |  | about your safety | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent parent=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
‘I know everything--you have deceived me.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deceive:x7:1
# text = ‘I know everything--you have deceived me.
1	‘	'	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	know	know	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	parataxis	_	_
4	everything	everything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	--	--	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
7	have	have	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	deceived	deceive	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
9	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **know** | present | I | everything |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer everything=Stimulus |
| 2 | **deceive** | present · perfect | you | me |  |  |  |  | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent i=Patient |

<!-- 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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