---
title: deceptively — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «deceptively» in the school dictionary: Deceptively means in a way that makes something seem different from what it really is. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# deceptively

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Deceptively, way, something, spacious, house, question · **What happens:** mean, make, seem, be, look, solve · **To what, where:** something, puzzle, deceptively simple question · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«deceptively» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [deceptively in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/deceptively.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Deceptively means in a way that makes something seem different from what it really is.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deceptively:m1:1
# text = Deceptively means in a way that makes something seem different from what it really is.
1	Deceptively	Deceptively	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	obj	_	_
9	seem	seem	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
10	different	different	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	xcomp	_	_
11	from	from	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	10	obl	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
14	really	really	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
15	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Deceptively |  |  |  |  | in a way | vn representation-110.1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Pivot in way=Attribute |
| 2 | **make** | present | a way | something |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **seem** | infinitive | something *not said here* |  |  |  |  | different *property* | vn seem-109-1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **be** | present | way |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- .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.

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"the question looks deceptively easy" means it seems easy but is actually hard.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deceptively:m1e:1
# text = "the question looks deceptively easy" means it seems easy but is actually hard.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	question	question	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	looks	look	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	csubj	_	_
5	deceptively	deceptively	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	easy	easy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
8	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	seems	seem	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	ccomp	_	_
11	easy	easy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	xcomp	_	_
12	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
13	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	cop	_	_
14	actually	actually	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
15	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** *in a quote* | present | the question |  |  |  |  | easy *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **seem** | present | it |  |  |  |  | easy *property* | vn seem-109-1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | actually, hard *property* | tree rules |

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In house adverts, "deceptively spacious" means the house is bigger inside than it looks from outside.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deceptively:m2:1
# text = In house adverts, "deceptively spacious" means the house is bigger inside than it looks from outside.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	adverts	advert	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	deceptively	deceptively	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	spacious	spacious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	_
9	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
12	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
13	bigger	big	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	9	ccomp	_	_
14	inside	inside	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
15	than	than	SCONJ	IN	_	17	mark	_	_
16	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	nsubj	_	_
17	looks	look	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	advcl	_	_
18	from	from	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	outside	outside	ADV	RB	_	17	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | spacious |  |  |  |  | in house adverts | vn representation-110.1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Pivot in advert=Attribute |
| 2 | **is** | present | the house |  |  |  |  | big, inside *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **look** | present | house |  |  |  |  |  | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent from outside=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The puzzle looked deceptively easy, but nobody solved it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deceptively:x1:1
# text = The puzzle looked deceptively easy, but nobody solved it.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	puzzle	puzzle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	deceptively	deceptively	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	easy	easy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	nobody	nobody	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	9	nsubj	_	_
9	solved	solve	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | past | the puzzle |  |  |  |  | easy *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **solve** | past | nobody | puzzle |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Topic |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The river looks deceptively calm, but the current is strong.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deceptively:x2:1
# text = The river looks deceptively calm, but the current is strong.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	river	river	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	looks	look	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	deceptively	deceptively	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	calm	calm	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
7	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	current	current	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
10	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
11	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | present | the river |  |  |  |  | calm *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **is** | present | the current |  |  |  |  | strong *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The house is deceptively spacious inside.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deceptively:x3:1
# text = The house is deceptively spacious inside.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	deceptively	deceptively	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	spacious	spacious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	inside	inside	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the house |  |  |  |  | deceptively, inside, spacious *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The little dog is deceptively strong.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deceptively:x4:1
# text = The little dog is deceptively strong.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	deceptively	deceptively	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the little dog |  |  |  |  | deceptively, strong *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It was a deceptively simple question with a trick.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deceptively:x5:1
# text = It was a deceptively simple question with a trick.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
4	deceptively	deceptively	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
5	simple	simple	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	question	question	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	trick	trick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | It | a deceptively simple question |  |  |  | with a trick | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The ice looked deceptively thick, so we stayed off it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deceptively:x6:1
# text = The ice looked deceptively thick, so we stayed off it.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	ice	ice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	deceptively	deceptively	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	thick	thick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	so	so	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
8	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	stayed	stay	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
10	off	off	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | past | the ice |  |  |  |  | thick *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **stay** | past | we |  |  |  |  | off ice | vn exist-47.1 «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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