---
title: deferential — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «deferential» in the school dictionary: Showing great respect and politeness to someone, often by agreeing with them or letting them decide: «a deferential bow». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# deferential

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** respect, butler, She, knights, young doctor, surgeon · **What happens:** show, agree, let, decide, be, speak · **To what, where:** great respect, respect, deferential tone, deferential bow, queen, mistake · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Showing great respect and politeness to someone, often by agreeing with them or letting them decide: «a deferential bow».

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deferential:m1:1
# text = Showing great respect and politeness to someone, often by agreeing with them or letting them decide: «a deferential bow».
1	Showing	show	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	respect	respect	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	politeness	politeness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	often	often	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
10	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
11	agreeing	agree	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	conj	_	_
12	with	with	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	obl	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	letting	let	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	11	conj	_	_
16	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	obj	_	_
17	decide	decide	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	1	punct	_	_
19	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	22	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
21	deferential	deferential	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	22	amod	_	_
22	bow	bow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	22	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | gerund |  | great respect and politeness |  |  |  | to someone | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S»: agent=Agent respect=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 2 | **agree** *speech: agree* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | with respect; often *property* | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V PP.co-agent how S»: agent=Agent with they=Co-Agent |
| 3 | **let** | gerund |  | respect |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **decide** | infinitive | respect *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn correspond-36.1-1 «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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The butler was deferential to everyone in the house.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deferential:x1:1
# text = The butler was deferential to everyone in the house.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	butler	butler	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	deferential	deferential	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	4	obl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the butler |  |  |  |  | to everyone; deferential *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She spoke in a deferential tone to the head teacher.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deferential:x2:1
# text = She spoke in a deferential tone to the head teacher.
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	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	deferential	deferential	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	tone	tone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **speak** *speech: other* | past | She |  |  | a deferential tone |  | to the head teacher | vn talk-37.5 «NP V PP.co-agent»: agent=Agent to teacher=Co-Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The knights gave a deferential bow to the queen.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deferential:x3:1
# text = The knights gave a deferential bow to the queen.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	knights	knight	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	deferential	deferential	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	bow	bow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	queen	queen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | the knights | a deferential bow | the queen |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent bow=Theme to queen=Recipient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The young doctor was too deferential to question the surgeon's mistake.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deferential:x4:1
# text = The young doctor was too deferential to question the surgeon's mistake.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	young	young	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	doctor	doctor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	too	too	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	deferential	deferential	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	question	question	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	csubj	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	surgeon	surgeon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	's	's	PART	POS	_	10	case	_	_
12	mistake	mistake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the young doctor |  |  |  |  | deferential *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **question** *speech: other* | to-infinitive |  | the surgeon's mistake |  |  |  |  | vn interrogate-37.1.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent mistake=Recipient |
| 3 | **mistake** |  | the surgeon |  |  |  |  |  | nom mistake «act intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In some cultures, children are expected to be deferential to older relatives.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deferential:x5:1
# text = In some cultures, children are expected to be deferential to older relatives.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	3	det	_	_
3	cultures	culture	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
6	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	expected	expect	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
9	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	cop	_	_
10	deferential	deferential	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	xcomp	_	_
11	to	to	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	older	old	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	13	amod	_	_
13	relatives	relative	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **expect** | present · passive |  | children |  | some cultures |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |
| 2 | **is a** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | children *not said here* | deferential |  |  |  | to older relatives | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His deferential manner made the visitors feel important.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deferential:x6:1
# text = His deferential manner made the visitors feel important.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	deferential	deferential	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	manner	manner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	visitors	visitor	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
7	feel	feel	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	ccomp	_	_
8	important	important	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | His deferential manner |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **feel** | present | the visitors |  |  |  |  | important *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

<!-- 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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