---
title: distress — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «distress» in the school dictionary: Great worry, sadness or pain. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# distress

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** tears, her, injured bird, Lifeguards, news, evident distress · **What happens:** need, make, look, distress, send out, whimper · **To what, where:** situation, someone, furniture, purpose, ship, puppy

<!-- .vabout -->
«distress» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [distress in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/distress.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Great worry, sadness or pain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:distress:m1:1
# text = Great worry, sadness or pain.
1	Great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	worry	worry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	sadness	sadness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	pain	pain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A situation of danger where help is badly needed: «a ship in distress».

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:distress:m2:1
# text = A situation of danger where help is badly needed: «a ship in distress».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	situation	situation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	danger	danger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
5	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	9	advmod	_	_
6	help	help	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj:pass	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux:pass	_	_
8	badly	badly	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	9	advmod	_	_
9	needed	need	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
11	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	ship	ship	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
14	in	in	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	distress	distress	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **need** | present · passive |  | a situation of danger |  |  |  | a ship in distress *obl*; badly *property* | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: subject=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To make someone very worried or upset.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:distress:m3:1
# text = To make someone very worried or upset.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	make	make	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	very	very	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	worried	worried	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	upset	upset	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | to-infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  | worried *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset someone=Product |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To make furniture or clothes look old on purpose: «distressed jeans».

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:distress:m4:1
# text = To make furniture or clothes look old on purpose: «distressed jeans».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
3	furniture	furniture	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	clothes	clothes	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan	3	conj	_	_
6	look	look	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	purpose	purpose	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
11	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	distressed	distress	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	13	amod	_	_
13	jeans	jeans	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan	6	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | to-infinitive |  | furniture or clothes |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset furniture=Product |
| 2 | **look** | present |  |  |  | purpose |  | old *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **distress** *in a quote* | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The ship sent out a distress signal.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:distress:x1:1
# text = The ship sent out a distress signal.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	ship	ship	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	sent	send	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	out	out	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	distress	distress	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	signal	signal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **send out** | participle · passive |  | the ship |  |  |  |  | vn send-11.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: subject=Destination signal=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The puppy whimpered in distress.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:distress:x2:1
# text = The puppy whimpered in distress.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	puppy	puppy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	whimpered	whimper	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	distress	distress	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **whimper** | participle |  | the puppy *not said here* |  | distress |  |  | vn animal\_sounds-38 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her tears showed her distress.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:distress:x3:1
# text = Her tears showed her distress.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	tears	tear	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	showed	show	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	distress	distress	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | past | Her tears | her distress |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent distress=Recipient |
| 2 | **distress** |  | her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom distress «feeling transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Seeing the injured bird distressed the children.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:distress:x4:1
# text = Seeing the injured bird distressed the children.
1	Seeing	see	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	punct	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	injured	injured	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	distressed	distress	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **see** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **distress** | past | the injured bird | the children |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus child=Experiencer |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Lifeguards help swimmers in distress.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:distress:x5:1
# text = Lifeguards help swimmers in distress.
1	Lifeguards	lifeguard	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	help	help	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	swimmers	swimmer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	distress	distress	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | present | Lifeguards | swimmers |  | distress |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent swimmer=Beneficiary |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The news caused great distress to the family.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:distress:x6:1
# text = The news caused great distress to the family.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	news	news	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	caused	cause	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	distress	distress	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cause** | past | the news | great distress |  |  |  | to the family | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition distress=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The jeans are distressed to look old.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:distress:x7:1
# text = The jeans are distressed to look old.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	jeans	jeans	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	distressed	distress	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	look	look	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **distress** | present · passive |  | the jeans |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **look** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | old *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her evident distress caused the sly Fox much amusement.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:distress:x8:1
# text = Her evident distress caused the sly Fox much amusement.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	evident	evident	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	distress	distress	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	caused	cause	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	sly	sly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	Fox	fox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
8	much	much	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	amusement	amusement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cause** | past | Her evident distress | the sly Fox and much amusement |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition fox=Patient |
| 2 | **distress** |  | Her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom distress «feeling transitive»: poss=agent |

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**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.

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