---
title: defence — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «defence» in the school dictionary: Defence is protecting yourself or something against attack or danger. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# defence

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Defence, players, Defences, other things, castle, She · **What happens:** protect, be, try, stop, score, say · **To what, where:** yourself, players, sports, other team, something, person · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«defence» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [defence in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/defence.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Defence is protecting yourself or something against attack or danger.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:defence:m1:1
# text = Defence is protecting yourself or something against attack or danger.
1	Defence	defence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	protecting	protect	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	yourself	yourself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=2|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	3	obj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	conj	_	_
7	against	against	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	attack	attack	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	danger	danger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **protect** | present · progressive | Defence | yourself |  |  |  |  | vn defend-72.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent yourself=Beneficiary |

<!-- .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 -->
In sports, the defence is the players who try to stop the other team scoring.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:defence:m2:1
# text = In sports, the defence is the players who try to stop the other team scoring.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	sports	sport	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	defence	defence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	players	player	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
9	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj	_	_
10	try	try	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	stop	stop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	xcomp	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	_
16	scoring	score	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	12	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the defence | the players |  | sports |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **try** | present | the players |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **stop** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | the players *not said here* | the other team |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **score** | gerund | the players *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A defence is something said to support a person who is blamed or accused, as in court.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:defence:m3:1
# text = A defence is something said to support a person who is blamed or accused, as in court.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	defence	defence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
5	said	say	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	support	support	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	12	nsubj:pass	_	_
11	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	aux:pass	_	_
12	blamed	blame	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	acl:relcl	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	accused	accuse	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
16	as	as	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	in	in	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
18	court	court	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a defence | something |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V how S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **support** | to-infinitive |  | a person |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer person=Stimulus |
| 4 | **blame** | present · passive |  | a person |  |  |  |  | vn judgment-33.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |
| 5 | **accuse** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | as court | vn suspect-81 «NP V PP.theme S\_ING»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Defences are walls, armies or other things that protect a place.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:defence:m4:1
# text = Defences are walls, armies or other things that protect a place.
1	Defences	defence	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	walls	wall	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	armies	army	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	conj	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	conj	_	_
9	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj	_	_
10	protect	protect	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Defences | walls and armies or other things |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **protect** | present | other things | a place |  |  |  |  | vn defend-72.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent place=Beneficiary |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The castle's defences included a moat and high walls.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:defence:x1:1
# text = The castle's defences included a moat and high walls.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	castle	castle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	defences	defence	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
5	included	include	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	moat	moat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	high	high	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	walls	wall	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **include** | past | the castle's defences | a moat and high walls |  |  |  |  | vn involve-107.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent moat=Theme |
| 2 | **defend** |  | the castle |  |  |  |  |  | nom defence «process transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She spoke up in defence of her friend.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:defence:x2:1
# text = She spoke up in defence of her friend.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	spoke	speak	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	up	up	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	defence	defence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	of	of	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	friend	friend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **speak up** *speech: other* | past | She |  |  | defence of her friend |  |  | vn lecture-37.11-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **defend** |  |  | her friend |  |  |  |  | nom defence «process transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our team's defence was very strong.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:defence:x3:1
# text = Our team's defence was very strong.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	defence	defence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	very	very	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | Our team's defence |  |  |  |  | strong *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **defend** |  | Our team |  |  |  |  |  | nom defence «process transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The skin is the body's first defence against germs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:defence:x4:1
# text = The skin is the body's first defence against germs.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	skin	skin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	's	's	PART	POS	_	5	case	_	_
7	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	8	amod	_	_
8	defence	defence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	against	against	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	germs	germ	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the skin | the body's first defence |  |  |  | against germs | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sea defences protect the town from floods.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:defence:x5:1
# text = Sea defences protect the town from floods.
1	Sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	defences	defence	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	protect	protect	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	town	town	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	floods	flood	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **protect** | present | Sea defences | the town |  |  |  | from floods | vn defend-72.3 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent town=Beneficiary from flood=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He learned self-defence at a club.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:defence:x6:1
# text = He learned self-defence at a club.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	learned	learn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	self	self	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	defence	defence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	club	club	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **learn** | past | He | self defence |  | a club |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent defence=Topic |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A hedgehog's spines are its defence.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:defence:x7:1
# text = A hedgehog's spines are its defence.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	hedgehog	hedgehog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	spines	spine	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
5	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	defence	defence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a hedgehog's spines | hedgehog's defence |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
On being brought into court she was ready with her defence.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:defence:x8:1
# text = On being brought into court she was ready with her defence.
1	On	on	SCONJ	IN	_	3	mark	_	_
2	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	brought	bring	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	advcl	_	_
4	into	into	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	court	court	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
6	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	ready	ready	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
9	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	defence	defence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **bring** | gerund · passive | she *not said here* |  |  | court |  |  | vn bring-11.3-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: into court=Destination |
| 2 | **is** | past | she |  |  |  |  | with her defence; ready *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **defend** |  | her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom defence «process transitive»: 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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