---
title: derisive — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «derisive» in the school dictionary: Showing that you think someone or something is stupid or worthless; mocking: «a derisive laugh». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# derisive

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, someone, Showing, bully, she, crowd · **What happens:** show, think, be, mock, deserve, laugh · **To what, where:** derisive laugh, race, derisive noises, other team, kind, derisive cackle · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Showing that you think someone or something is stupid or worthless; mocking: «a derisive laugh».

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:derisive:m1:1
# text = Showing that you think someone or something is stupid or worthless; mocking: «a derisive laugh».
1	Showing	show	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	13	csubj	_	_
2	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
3	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	think	think	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	ccomp	_	_
5	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	nsubj	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	conj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	stupid	stupid	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	ccomp	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	worthless	worthless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
13	mocking	mock	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
15	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
17	derisive	derisive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	laugh	laugh	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	13	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **think** *speech: other* | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is** | present | someone |  |  |  |  | stupid *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **be** |  | someone *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **mock** | gerund | Showing | a derisive laugh |  |  |  |  | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP»: 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.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Deserving to be laughed at; ridiculous (better said «derisory»).

<!-- fold The tree, 9 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:derisive:m2:1
# text = Deserving to be laughed at; ridiculous (better said «derisory»).
1	Deserving	deserve	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	advcl	_	_
2	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
3	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	laughed	laugh	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	1	advcl	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
7	ridiculous	ridiculous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
8	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	better	good	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	10	ccomp	_	_
10	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	parataxis	_	_
11	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	derisory	derisory	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **deserve** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **laugh** | to-infinitive · passive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V» |
| 3 | **say** *speech: assert* | past |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The bully gave a derisive laugh.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:derisive:x1:1
# text = The bully gave a derisive laugh.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	bully	bully	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	gave	give	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	derisive	derisive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	laugh	laugh	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 | **give** | past | the bully | a derisive laugh |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent laugh=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"You? Win a race?" she said with a derisive snort.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* "You?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:derisive:x2:1
# text = "You?
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* Win a race?" she said with a derisive snort.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:derisive:x2:2
# text = Win a race?" she said with a derisive snort.
1	Win	win	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	race	race	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	1	punct	_	_
6	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	1	parataxis	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	derisive	derisive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	snort	snort	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **win** | imperative | you *not said here* | a race |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* *in a quote* | past | she |  |  |  |  | with a derisive snort | vn pronounce-29.3.1 «NP V NP PP.manner»: agent=Agent with snort=Manner |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The crowd made derisive noises at the other team.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:derisive:x3:1
# text = The crowd made derisive noises at the other team.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	crowd	crowd	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	derisive	derisive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	noises	noise	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	team	team	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 | **make** | past | the crowd | derisive noises |  | the other team |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset noise=Product |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Derisive comments online can be a kind of bullying.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:derisive:x4:1
# text = Derisive comments online can be a kind of bullying.
1	Derisive	derisive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	comments	comment	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
3	online	online	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
5	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	kind	kind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	bullying	bullying	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | can | Derisive comments | a kind |  |  |  | of bullying | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The witch's derisive cackle echoed in the cave.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:derisive:x5:1
# text = The witch's derisive cackle echoed in the cave.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	witch	witch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	derisive	derisive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	cackle	cackle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	echoed	echo	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	cave	cave	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **echo** | participle |  | the witch's derisive cackle *not said here* |  | the cave |  |  | vn sound\_existence-47.4 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in cave=Location |
| 2 | **cackle** |  | the witch |  |  |  |  |  | nom cackle «event intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He ignored their derisive looks and kept practising.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:derisive:x6:1
# text = He ignored their derisive looks and kept practising.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	ignored	ignore	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
4	derisive	derisive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	looks	look	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	kept	keep	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
8	practising	practise	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ignore** | past | He | their derisive looks |  |  |  |  | vn neglect-75.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent look=Theme |
| 2 | **keep** | past | He *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **practise** | gerund | He *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | 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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