---
title: denial — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «denial» in the school dictionary: A denial is saying that something is not true. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# denial

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** denial, something, Peter, minister, crumbs, his · **What happens:** say, not be, refuse, not give, deny, be · **To what, where:** something, no, rights, denial, painful truth, Jesus · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«denial» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [denial in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/denial.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A denial is saying that something is not true.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:denial:m1:1
# text = A denial is saying that something is not true.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	denial	denial	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	saying	say	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
9	true	true	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present · progressive | a denial |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **not** **is** | present | something |  |  |  |  | true *property* | tree rules |

<!-- .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 -->
Denial is refusing to give something, or saying no: denial of rights.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:denial:m2:1
# text = Denial is refusing to give something, or saying no: denial of rights.
1	Denial	denial	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	refusing	refuse	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	give	give	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	saying	say	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	conj	_	_
10	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
12	denial	denial	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
13	of	of	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	rights	right	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **refuse** | present · progressive | Denial |  |  |  |  |  | vn reject-77.2 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **not** **give** | to-infinitive | Denial *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Theme |
| 3 | **say** *speech: assert* | gerund | Denial *not said here* | no |  |  |  | denial of rights *obl* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent no=Topic |
| 4 | **deny** |  |  | rights |  |  |  |  | nom denial «communication transitive»: of=patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Being «in denial» means not accepting a painful truth.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:denial:m3:1
# text = Being «in denial» means not accepting a painful truth.
1	Being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	cop	_	_
2	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	denial	denial	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
6	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
8	accepting	accept	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	xcomp	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	painful	painful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	truth	truth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** *in a quote* | gerund |  |  |  | denial |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **mean** | present | denial |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **not** **accept** *not said to happen* | gerund | denial *not said here* | a painful truth |  |  |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent truth=Theme |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Peter's denial is when he said he did not know Jesus.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:denial:m4:1
# text = Peter's denial is when he said he did not know Jesus.
1	Peter	Peter	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	's	PART	POS	_	1	case	_	_
3	denial	denial	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	7	advmod	_	_
6	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
9	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
10	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
11	know	know	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	ccomp	_	_
12	Jesus	Jesus	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** *speech: assert* | present | Peter's denial |  |  |  |  | say *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **know** | past · do-support | Peter | Jesus |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer jesus=Stimulus |
| 3 | **deny** |  | Peter |  |  |  |  |  | nom denial «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The minister made a firm denial.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:denial:x1:1
# text = The minister made a firm denial.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	minister	minister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	firm	firm	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	denial	denial	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | the minister | a firm denial |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset denial=Product |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Despite his denial, the crumbs were on his face.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:denial:x2:1
# text = Despite his denial, the crumbs were on his face.
1	Despite	despite	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	denial	denial	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	crumbs	crumb	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	_
7	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	face	face	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the crumbs |  |  | his face |  | despite his denial | tree rules |
| 2 | **deny** |  | his *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom denial «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She was in denial about losing the race.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:denial:x3:1
# text = She was in denial about losing the race.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	denial	denial	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	about	about	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	losing	lose	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	race	race	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 | **is** | past | She |  |  |  |  | denial *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **lose** | gerund | She *not said here* | the race |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent race=Eventuality |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Denial of food is cruel.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:denial:x4:1
# text = Denial of food is cruel.
1	Denial	denial	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	cruel	cruel	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Denial of food |  |  |  |  | cruel *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **deny** |  |  | food |  |  |  |  | nom denial «communication transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Peter's denial happened before the cock crowed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:denial:x5:1
# text = Peter's denial happened before the cock crowed.
1	Peter	Peter	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	's	PART	POS	_	1	case	_	_
3	denial	denial	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	happened	happen	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	cock	cock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	crowed	crow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **happen** | past | Peter's denial |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **crow** | past | the cock |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **deny** |  | Peter |  |  |  |  |  | nom denial «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Denial is one stage of grief.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:denial:x6:1
# text = Denial is one stage of grief.
1	Denial	denial	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	stage	stage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	grief	grief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Denial | one stage |  |  |  | of grief | tree rules |

<!-- 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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