---
title: doleful — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «doleful» in the school dictionary: Very sad and gloomy, looking or sounding miserable. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/doleful/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [D](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/) / doleful

# doleful

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** puppy, Mock Turtle, Toad, doleful bell, He, his · **What happens:** look, sound, cause, give, sing, sit · **To what, where:** sadness, doleful look, me, doleful song, cell, valley · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Very sad and gloomy, looking or sounding miserable.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:doleful:m1:1
# text = Very sad and gloomy, looking or sounding miserable.
1	Very	very	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	sad	sad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	gloomy	gloomy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	looking	look	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	parataxis	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	sounding	sound	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	conj	_	_
9	miserable	miserable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **sound** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | miserable *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

<!-- .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 -->
Causing sadness: «doleful news».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:doleful:m2:1
# text = Causing sadness: «doleful news».
1	Causing	cause	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	sadness	sadness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	1	punct	_	_
4	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	doleful	doleful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	news	news	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The puppy gave me a doleful look.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:doleful:x1:1
# text = The puppy gave me a doleful look.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	puppy	puppy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	iobj	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	doleful	doleful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	look	look	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 | **give** | past | the puppy | a doleful look | me |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent i=Recipient look=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Mock Turtle sang a doleful song.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:doleful:x2:1
# text = The Mock Turtle sang a doleful song.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	Mock	Mock	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	Turtle	Turtle	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	sang	sing	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	doleful	doleful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	song	song	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sing** *speech: express* | past | the Mock Turtle | a doleful song |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location song=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Toad sat in his cell looking doleful.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:doleful:x3:1
# text = Toad sat in his cell looking doleful.
1	Toad	Toad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	sat	sit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	cell	cell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	looking	look	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
7	doleful	doleful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sit** | past | Toad |  |  | Toad's cell |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent in cell=Location |
| 2 | **look** | gerund | Toad *not said here* |  |  |  |  | doleful *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A doleful bell rang across the valley.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:doleful:x4:1
# text = A doleful bell rang across the valley.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	doleful	doleful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	bell	bell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	rang	ring	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	across	across	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	valley	valley	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ring** | past | a doleful bell |  |  | the valley |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He told the doleful story of his lost kite.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:doleful:x5:1
# text = He told the doleful story of his lost kite.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	told	tell	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	doleful	doleful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
8	lost	lose	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	amod	_	_
9	kite	kite	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | past | He | the doleful story of his lost kite |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent story=Recipient |
| 2 | **lose** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **kite** |  | his *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom kite «possession transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The rain made the day feel doleful.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:doleful:x6:1
# text = The rain made the day feel doleful.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl:unmarked	_	_
6	feel	feel	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
7	doleful	doleful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | the rain |  |  |  | day |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **feel** | infinitive | the rain *not said here* |  |  |  |  | doleful *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It was really a doleful garden for a princess.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:doleful:x7:1
# text = It was really a doleful garden for a princess.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
3	really	really	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	doleful	doleful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	garden	garden	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	princess	princess	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | It | a doleful garden |  |  |  | for a princess | 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [dole](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dole/)
- next →: [dolefully](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dolefully/)
- ↑ back to [D in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/)