---
title: dowager — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «dowager» in the school dictionary: A widow who has a title or property from her dead husband, such as a «dowager duchess» or «dowager queen». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# dowager

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** widow, dowager duchess, Empress Dowager, king, stern dowager, dowager · **What happens:** have, live, rule, die, become, sit · **To what, where:** title, old castle, China, queen dowager, front row, mother · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A widow who has a title or property from her dead husband, such as a «dowager duchess» or «dowager queen».

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dowager:m1:1
# text = A widow who has a title or property from her dead husband, such as a «dowager duchess» or «dowager queen».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	widow	widow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	4	nsubj	_	_
4	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	title	title	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	property	property	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
9	from	from	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
11	dead	dead	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	husband	husband	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
14	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	19	case	_	_
15	as	as	ADP	IN	_	14	fixed	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
17	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	dowager	dowager	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	compound	_	_
19	duchess	duchess	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	19	punct	_	_
21	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
22	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	24	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	dowager	dowager	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	compound	_	_
24	queen	queen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	24	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | a widow | a title or property from widow's dead husband or dowager queen |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent title=Patient |

<!-- .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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A grand, dignified old lady.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dowager:m2:1
# text = A grand, dignified old lady.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
2	grand	grand	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	dignified	dignified	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
5	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	lady	lady	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The dowager duchess still lived in the old castle.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dowager:x1:1
# text = The dowager duchess still lived in the old castle.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	dowager	dowager	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	duchess	duchess	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	still	still	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	lived	live	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	castle	castle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** | past | the dowager duchess |  |  | the old castle | still |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in castle=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Empress Dowager ruled China for many years.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dowager:x2:1
# text = The Empress Dowager ruled China for many years.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	Empress	Empress	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	Dowager	dowager	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	ruled	rule	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	China	China	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **rule** | past | the Empress Dowager | China |  |  | year |  | vn dub-29.3.2 «NP V NP NP»: agent=Agent china=Result |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
After the king died, his widow became the queen dowager.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dowager:x3:1
# text = After the king died, his widow became the queen dowager.
1	After	after	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	king	king	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	died	die	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	widow	widow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	became	become	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	queen	queen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	dowager	dowager	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **die** | past | the king |  |  |  |  |  | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1 «NP.attribute V»: agent=Attribute |
| 2 | **become** | past | king's widow | the queen dowager |  |  |  |  | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A stern dowager sat in the front row of the concert.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dowager:x4:1
# text = A stern dowager sat in the front row of the concert.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	stern	stern	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	dowager	dowager	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	sat	sit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	front	front	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	row	row	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	concert	concert	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sit** | past | a stern dowager |  |  | the front row of the concert |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent in row=Location |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The young duke's mother was now called the dowager.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dowager:x5:1
# text = The young duke's mother was now called the dowager.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	young	young	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	duke	duke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	's	's	PART	POS	_	3	case	_	_
5	mother	mother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj:pass	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux:pass	_	_
7	now	now	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	8	advmod	_	_
8	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	dowager	dowager	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | past · passive |  | the young duke's mother |  |  | now |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: subject=Recipient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The dowager wore pearls and a feathered hat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dowager:x6:1
# text = The dowager wore pearls and a feathered hat.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dowager	dowager	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	wore	wear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	pearls	pearl	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	feathered	feathered	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	hat	hat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wear** | past | the dowager | pearls and a feathered hat |  |  |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent pearl=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Queen-dowager was wise and good, and tried her best to make her people happy.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dowager:x7:1
# text = The Queen-dowager was wise and good, and tried her best to make her people happy.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	Queen	Queen	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	dowager	dowager	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	wise	wise	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	tried	try	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
12	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
13	best	good	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	11	obj	_	_
14	to	to	PART	TO	_	15	mark	_	_
15	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	xcomp	_	_
16	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	obj	_	_
17	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	obj	_	_
18	happy	happy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the Queen dowager |  |  |  |  | wise *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | the Queen dowager *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **try** | past | the Queen dowager *not said here* | her best |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **make** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | the Queen dowager *not said here* | people | her *= she* |  |  | happy *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP NP»: agent=Asset she=Beneficiary people=Product |

<!-- 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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