---
title: disbelieve — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «disbelieve» in the school dictionary: To not believe that someone or something is true; to refuse to believe. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# disbelieve

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** someone, villagers, boy, Thomas, I, teacher · **What happens:** not believe, be, refuse, not have, disbelieve, cry · **To what, where:** faith, something, boy, wolf, news, Jesus · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«disbelieve» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings 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: [disbelieve in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/disbelieve.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To not believe that someone or something is true; to refuse to believe.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:disbelieve:m1:1
# text = To not believe that someone or something is true; to refuse to believe.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	3	mark	_	_
2	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	believe	believe	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
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	true	true	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	refuse	refuse	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
13	to	to	PART	TO	_	14	mark	_	_
14	believe	believe	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **believe** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **is** | present | someone |  |  |  |  | true *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **refuse** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn reject-77.2 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 4 | **not** **believe** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer |

<!-- .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 -->
To not have faith in something, especially in God (formal, older use).

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:disbelieve:m2:1
# text = To not have faith in something, especially in God (formal, older use).
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	3	mark	_	_
2	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	have	have	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	faith	faith	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	God	God	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	appos	_	_
11	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	formal	formal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
14	older	old	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	15	amod	_	_
15	use	use	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **have** | to-infinitive |  | faith |  | something |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent faith=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The villagers disbelieved the boy who cried wolf.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:disbelieve:x1:1
# text = The villagers disbelieved the boy who cried wolf.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	villagers	villager	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	disbelieved	disbelieve	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	cried	cry	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	wolf	wolf	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **disbelieve** | past | the villagers | the boy |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **cry** *speech: express* | past | the boy | wolf |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent wolf=Topic |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Thomas disbelieved the news until he saw Jesus himself.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:disbelieve:x2:1
# text = Thomas disbelieved the news until he saw Jesus himself.
1	Thomas	Thomas	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	disbelieved	disbelieve	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	news	news	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	until	until	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	saw	see	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
8	Jesus	Jesus	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
9	himself	himself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **disbelieve** | past | Thomas | the news |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **see** | past | Thomas | Jesus  Thomas |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer jesus=Stimulus |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I have no reason to disbelieve you.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:disbelieve:x3:1
# text = I have no reason to disbelieve you.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	4	det	_	_
4	reason	reason	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	disbelieve	disbelieve	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	acl	_	_
7	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | I | no reason |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent reason=Patient |
| 2 | **disbelieve** | to-infinitive | I *not said here* | you |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The teacher disbelieved my excuse about the dog eating my homework.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:disbelieve:x4:1
# text = The teacher disbelieved my excuse about the dog eating my homework.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	disbelieved	disbelieve	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	excuse	excuse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	about	about	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
9	eating	eat	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	acl	_	_
10	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	homework	homework	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **disbelieve** | past | the teacher | my excuse |  |  |  | about the dog | tree rules |
| 2 | **eat** | gerund | the dog *not said here* | my homework |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent homework=Patient |
| 3 | **excuse** |  | my |  |  |  |  | about the dog | nom excuse «communication transitive»: poss=agent about=obl |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Many people disbelieved the explorer's tales.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:disbelieve:x5:1
# text = Many people disbelieved the explorer's tales.
1	Many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	disbelieved	disbelieve	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	explorer	explorer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	's	's	PART	POS	_	5	case	_	_
7	tales	tale	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **disbelieve** | past | Many people | the explorer's tales |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **tell** |  | the explorer |  |  |  |  |  | nom tale «communication intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She was disbelieved at first, but the evidence proved her right.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:disbelieve:x6:1
# text = She was disbelieved at first, but the evidence proved her right.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	disbelieved	disbelieve	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	first	first	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
7	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	evidence	evidence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
10	proved	prove	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
11	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	_
12	right	right	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **disbelieve** | past · passive |  | She |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **prove** | past | the evidence | her *= she* |  |  |  | right *property* | vn deduce-97.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent she=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
“Then do you disbelieve what I say, and think that I am telling you a falsehood?”

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:disbelieve:x7:1
# text = “Then do you disbelieve what I say, and think that I am telling you a falsehood?”
1	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	5	advmod	_	_
3	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	disbelieve	disbelieve	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	5	obj	_	_
7	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	say	say	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	think	think	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
12	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
13	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
14	am	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	aux	_	_
15	telling	tell	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	11	advcl	_	_
16	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	15	iobj	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	falsehood	falsehood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **disbelieve** *in a quote* | present · do-support | you |  |  |  | then |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* *in a quote* | present | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **think** *speech: other* *in a quote* | present | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **tell** *speech: assert* *in a quote* | present · progressive | I | a falsehood | you |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent you=Recipient falsehood=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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