---
title: defraud — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «defraud» in the school dictionary: To trick someone out of money, property or rights by lying or cheating: «He defrauded old people of their savings». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# defraud

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** He, people, fake charity, Scammers, you, strangers · **What happens:** trick, lie, cheat, defraud, save, try · **To what, where:** someone, money, old people, people, banker, customers

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: law — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To trick someone out of money, property or rights by lying or cheating: «He defrauded old people of their savings».

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:defraud:m1:1
# text = To trick someone out of money, property or rights by lying or cheating: «He defrauded old people of their savings».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	trick	trick	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	out	out	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	property	property	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	rights	right	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	_	_
11	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
12	lying	lie	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	cheating	cheat	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	18	punct	_	_
16	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	18	nsubj	_	_
18	defrauded	defraud	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	conj	_	_
19	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
20	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	obj	_	_
21	of	of	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
22	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	23	nmod:poss	_	_
23	savings	savings	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan	20	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **trick** | to-infinitive |  | someone |  | money and property or rights |  |  | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent someone=Patient |
| 2 | **lie** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **cheat** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn cheat-10.6.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **defraud** *in a quote* | past | He | old people of people's savings |  |  |  |  | vn cheat-10.6.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent people=Source |
| 5 | **save** *in a quote* |  | people |  |  |  |  |  | nom savings «possession transitive»: poss=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 fake charity defrauded people of thousands of pounds.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:defraud:x1:1
# text = The fake charity defrauded people of thousands of pounds.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	fake	fake	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	charity	charity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	defrauded	defraud	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	thousands	thousand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	pounds	pound	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **defraud** | past | the fake charity | people of thousands of pounds |  |  |  |  | vn cheat-10.6.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent people=Source |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scammers try to defraud people with fake prize emails.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:defraud:x2:1
# text = Scammers try to defraud people with fake prize emails.
1	Scammers	scammer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	try	try	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	defraud	defraud	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	fake	fake	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
8	prize	prize	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	emails	email	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | present | Scammers |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **defraud** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | Scammers *not said here* | people |  |  |  | with fake prize emails | vn cheat-10.6.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent people=Source |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The banker was jailed for defrauding his customers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:defraud:x3:1
# text = The banker was jailed for defrauding his customers.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	banker	banker	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	jailed	jail	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	defrauding	defraud	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	_
7	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	customers	customer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **jail** | past · passive |  | the banker |  |  |  |  | vn confine-92 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |
| 2 | **defraud** | gerund |  | his customers |  |  |  |  | vn cheat-10.6.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent customer=Source |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Never give your card details to strangers who might try to defraud you.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:defraud:x4:1
# text = Never give your card details to strangers who might try to defraud you.
1	Never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	give	give	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
4	card	card	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	details	detail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	strangers	stranger	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
8	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj	_	_
9	might	might	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	try	try	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	acl:relcl	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	defraud	defraud	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	xcomp	_	_
13	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **give** | imperative | you *not said here* | your card details | strangers |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent detail=Theme to stranger=Recipient |
| 2 | **try** | might | strangers |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **defraud** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | strangers *not said here* | you |  |  |  |  | vn cheat-10.6.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent you=Source |
| 4 | **detail** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom detail «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The company was accused of defrauding the government.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:defraud:x5:1
# text = The company was accused of defrauding the government.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	company	company	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	accused	accuse	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	defrauding	defraud	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	government	government	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 | **accuse** | past · passive |  | the company |  |  |  |  | vn suspect-81 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: subject=Theme |
| 2 | **defraud** | gerund |  | the government |  |  |  |  | vn cheat-10.6.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent government=Source |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He defrauded his grandmother of her savings, which made the whole family sad.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:defraud:x6:1
# text = He defrauded his grandmother of her savings, which made the whole family sad.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	defrauded	defraud	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	grandmother	grandmother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	savings	savings	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj	_	_
10	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	whole	whole	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
14	sad	sad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **defraud** | past | He | his grandmother of her savings |  |  |  |  | vn cheat-10.6.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent grandmother=Source |
| 2 | **make** | past | his grandmother of her savings | the whole family |  |  |  | sad *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset family=Product |
| 3 | **save** |  | her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom savings «possession transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Friar Bacon was defrauded of his labour in producing the Brazen Head in a similar way.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:defraud:x7:1
# text = Friar Bacon was defrauded of his labour in producing the Brazen Head in a similar way.
1	Friar	Friar	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	Bacon	Bacon	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	flat	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	defrauded	defraud	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	labour	labour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	in	in	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
9	producing	produce	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	advcl	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	Brazen	brazen	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	Head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	similar	similar	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **defraud** | past · passive |  | Friar |  |  |  | of Friar's labour | vn cheat-10.6.1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Source |
| 2 | **produce** | gerund |  | the Brazen Head |  | a similar way |  |  | vn create-26.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent head=Result |

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