---
title: defiant — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «defiant» in the school dictionary: Defiant means openly refusing to obey or to do what you are told. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# defiant

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Defiant, defiant child, defiant boy, She, defiant soldiers, cat · **What happens:** mean, refuse, not obey, do, tell, stand up · **To what, where:** you, arms, room, bully, defiant voice, cup · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Defiant means openly refusing to obey or to do what you are told.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:defiant:m1:1
# text = Defiant means openly refusing to obey or to do what you are told.
1	Defiant	defiant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	openly	openly	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	refusing	refuse	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	ccomp	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	obey	obey	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	conj	_	_
10	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	13	obj	_	_
11	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj:pass	_	_
12	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	aux:pass	_	_
13	told	tell	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Defiant |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **refuse** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | openly *property* | vn reject-77.2 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 3 | **not** **obey** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn abide\_by-93.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **do** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **tell** *speech: assert* | present · passive |  | you |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: subject=Recipient what=Topic |

<!-- .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 -->
"a defiant child folded his arms".

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:defiant:m1e:1
# text = "a defiant child folded his arms".
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	defiant	defiant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	child	child	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	folded	fold	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	arms	arm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fold** *in a quote* | past | a defiant child | child's arms |  |  |  |  | vn bend-45.2 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent arm=Patient |

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Defiant can also mean bravely standing up to something stronger.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:defiant:m2:1
# text = Defiant can also mean bravely standing up to something stronger.
1	Defiant	defiant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	also	also	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	bravely	bravely	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	standing	stand	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	xcomp	_	_
7	up	up	ADP	RP	_	6	compound:prt	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	obl	_	_
10	stronger	strong	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	9	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can | Defiant |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **stand up** *not said to happen* | gerund | Defiant *not said here* |  |  |  |  | to something; bravely *property* | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"a defiant shout against the storm".

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:defiant:m2e:1
# text = "a defiant shout against the storm".
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	defiant	defiant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	shout	shout	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	against	against	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	storm	storm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The defiant boy refused to tidy his room.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:defiant:x1:1
# text = The defiant boy refused to tidy his room.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	defiant	defiant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	refused	refuse	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	tidy	tidy	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	room	room	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **refuse** | past | the defiant boy |  |  |  |  |  | vn reject-77.2 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **not** **tidy** | to-infinitive | the defiant boy *not said here* | boy's room |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She gave the bully a defiant stare.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:defiant:x2:1
# text = She gave the bully a defiant stare.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	bully	bully	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	defiant	defiant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	stare	stare	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | She | the bully |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent bully=Recipient stare=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"I won't!" she said in a defiant voice.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:defiant:x3:1
# text = "I won't!" she said in a defiant voice.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	wo	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
7	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	defiant	defiant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	voice	voice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | she |  |  | a defiant voice |  |  | vn pronounce-29.3.1 «NP V NP PP.manner»: agent=Agent in voice=Manner |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The defiant soldiers would not surrender.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:defiant:x4:1
# text = The defiant soldiers would not surrender.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	defiant	defiant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	soldiers	soldier	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
4	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
5	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	6	advmod	_	_
6	surrender	surrender	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **surrender** | would | the defiant soldiers |  |  |  |  |  | vn contribute-13.2-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cat looked defiant as it knocked the cup off the table.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:defiant:x5:1
# text = The cat looked defiant as it knocked the cup off the table.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	defiant	defiant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
5	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	knocked	knock	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	cup	cup	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	off	off	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	table	table	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | past | the cat |  |  |  |  | defiant *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **knock** | past | cat | the cup |  |  |  | off the table | vn split-23.2 «NP V NP PP.co-patient»: agent=Agent cup=Patient off table=Co-Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Despite losing, the team stayed defiant to the end.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:defiant:x6:1
# text = Despite losing, the team stayed defiant to the end.
1	Despite	despite	ADP	IN	_	2	mark	_	_
2	losing	lose	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	stayed	stay	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	defiant	defiant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	end	end	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lose** | gerund | the team *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **stay** | past | the team |  |  |  |  | defiant *property* | 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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