---
title: disbelief — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «disbelief» in the school dictionary: The feeling of not believing that something is true or real, often because it is surprising or shocking. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# disbelief

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** feeling, something, She, her, He, crowd · **What happens:** not believe, be, lack, stare, score, shake · **To what, where:** belief, head, disbelief, fantasy books, Jesus · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The feeling of not believing that something is true or real, often because it is surprising or shocking.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:disbelief:m1:1
# text = The feeling of not believing that something is true or real, often because it is surprising or shocking.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	feeling	feeling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
4	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	believing	believe	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	acl	_	_
6	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	true	true	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	ccomp	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
13	often	often	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
14	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	17	mark	_	_
15	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	expl	_	_
16	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	17	cop	_	_
17	surprising	surprising	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	conj	_	_
18	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	shocking	shocking	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **believe** | gerund | the feeling *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **is** | present | something |  |  |  |  | true *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **be** |  | something *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **is** | present | something *not said here* |  |  |  |  | often, surprising *property* | tree rules |
| 5 | **be** |  | something *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | 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 -->
Lack of belief, for example in God.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:disbelief:m2:1
# text = Lack of belief, for example in God.
1	Lack	lack	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	belief	belief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	example	example	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	God	God	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lack** |  |  | belief |  |  |  |  | nom lack «state transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She stared in disbelief at her test score.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:disbelief:x1:1
# text = She stared in disbelief at her test score.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	stared	stare	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	disbelief	disbelief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
7	test	test	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	score	score	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stare** | past | She |  |  |  |  | at her test score; in disbelief | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent in disbelief=Theme |
| 2 | **score** |  | her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom score «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He shook his head in disbelief.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:disbelief:x2:1
# text = He shook his head in disbelief.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	shook	shake	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	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	disbelief	disbelief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shake** | past | He | his head |  | disbelief |  |  | vn funnel-9.3-1-1 «NP V NP PP.trajectory»: agent=Agent head=Theme in disbelief=Trajectory |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The crowd gasped in disbelief.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:disbelief:x3:1
# text = The crowd gasped in disbelief.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	crowd	crowd	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	gasped	gasp	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	disbelief	disbelief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **gasp** | past | the crowd |  |  |  |  | in disbelief | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent in disbelief=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To enjoy fantasy books, you suspend disbelief.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:disbelief:x4:1
# text = To enjoy fantasy books, you suspend disbelief.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	enjoy	enjoy	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	advcl	_	_
3	fantasy	fantasy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	books	book	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	suspend	suspend	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	disbelief	disbelief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **enjoy** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | fantasy books |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer book=Stimulus |
| 2 | **suspend** | present | you | disbelief |  |  |  |  | vn fire-10.10 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent disbelief=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There was disbelief when the old tree fell.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:disbelief:x5:1
# text = There was disbelief when the old tree fell.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	was	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	disbelief	disbelief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
4	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	8	advmod	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	fell	fall	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | past | disbelief |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **fall** | past | the old tree |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Thomas showed disbelief until he saw Jesus, the Bible says.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:disbelief:x6:1
# text = Thomas showed disbelief until he saw Jesus, the Bible says.
1	Thomas	Thomas	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	showed	show	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	disbelief	disbelief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	until	until	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
5	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	saw	see	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	_
7	Jesus	Jesus	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	Bible	Bible	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
11	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | past | Thomas | disbelief |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent disbelief=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 2 | **see** | past | Thomas | Jesus |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer jesus=Stimulus |
| 3 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | the Bible | Jesus *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent jesus=Topic |

<!-- 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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