---
title: divination — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «divination» in the school dictionary: Trying to find out about the future or hidden things by special or magical means, such as reading cards, stars or tea leaves. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# divination

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Trying, ancient Greeks, Reading, witch, Chinese kings, scientific evidence · **What happens:** try, find out, hide, mean, visit, read · **To what, where:** reading cards, oracle, tea leaves, kind, divination, story · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Trying to find out about the future or hidden things by special or magical means, such as reading cards, stars or tea leaves.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:divination:m1:1
# text = Trying to find out about the future or hidden things by special or magical means, such as reading cards, stars or tea leaves.
1	Trying	try	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	15	csubj	_	_
2	to	to	PART	TO	_	3	mark	_	_
3	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	xcomp	_	_
4	out	out	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	about	about	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	future	future	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	hidden	hide	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	amod	_	_
10	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	conj	_	_
11	by	by	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	special	special	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	obl	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	magical	magical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	conj	_	_
15	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
17	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	20	case	_	_
18	as	as	ADP	IN	_	17	fixed	_	_
19	reading	reading	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	compound	_	_
20	cards	card	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
22	stars	star	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	appos	_	_
23	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	25	cc	_	_
24	tea	tea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	compound	_	_
25	leaves	leaf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	22	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	15	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **find out** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | about the future or hidden things; by special | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent about future=Topic |
| 3 | **hide** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn concealment-16-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **mean** | present | Trying | reading cards |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent card=Topic |

<!-- .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 -->
A clever guess or insight.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:divination:m2:1
# text = A clever guess or insight.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	clever	clever	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	guess	guess	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	insight	insight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The ancient Greeks visited the oracle for divination.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:divination:x1:1
# text = The ancient Greeks visited the oracle for divination.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	ancient	ancient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	Greeks	Greek	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	visited	visit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	oracle	oracle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	divination	divination	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **visit** | past | the ancient Greeks | the oracle |  |  |  | for divination | vn meet-36.3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent oracle=Co-Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Reading tea leaves is a kind of divination.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:divination:x2:1
# text = Reading tea leaves is a kind of divination.
1	Reading	read	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	csubj	_	_
2	tea	tea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	leaves	leaf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	kind	kind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	divination	divination	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **read** | gerund |  | tea leaves |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent leaf=Topic |
| 2 | **is a** | present | Reading | a kind |  |  |  | of divination | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the story, the witch taught divination with a crystal ball.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:divination:x3:1
# text = In the story, the witch taught divination with a crystal ball.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	witch	witch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	taught	teach	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	divination	divination	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
9	with	with	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	crystal	crystal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	ball	ball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **teach** *speech: other* | past | the witch | divination |  | the story |  | with a crystal ball | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent divination=Recipient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Chinese kings used oracle bones for divination.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:divination:x4:1
# text = Chinese kings used oracle bones for divination.
1	Chinese	Chinese	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	kings	king	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	oracle	oracle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	bones	bone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	divination	divination	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past | Chinese kings | oracle bones |  |  |  | for divination | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP PP.predicate»: agent=Agent bone=Theme for divination=Eventuality |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There is no scientific evidence that divination can predict the future.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:divination:x5:1
# text = There is no scientific evidence that divination can predict the future.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	5	det	_	_
4	scientific	scientific	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	evidence	evidence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
6	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
7	divination	divination	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
8	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	predict	predict	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	future	future	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | present | no scientific evidence |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **predict** | can | divination | the future |  |  |  |  | vn indicate-78 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot future=Topic |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Bible tells believers not to practise divination.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:divination:x6:1
# text = The Bible tells believers not to practise divination.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Bible	Bible	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	tells	tell	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	believers	believer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	practise	practise	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
8	divination	divination	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 | **tell** *speech: assert* | present | the Bible | believers |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent believer=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 2 | **not** **practise** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | believers *not said here* | divination |  |  |  |  | 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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