---
title: drily — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «drily» in the school dictionary: In a funny way that seems serious, with a straight face (dry humour). Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# drily

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** that, Dad, rain, Grandpa, She, his · **What happens:** seem, say, come down, remark, smile, excuse · **To what, where:** picnic, Lovely weather, excuse, homework, comedian, Cat · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In a funny way that seems serious, with a straight face (dry humour).

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:drily:m1:1
# text = In a funny way that seems serious, with a straight face (dry humour).
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	funny	funny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	seems	seem	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	serious	serious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
9	with	with	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	straight	straight	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	face	face	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	parataxis	_	_
13	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	dry	dry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	humour	humour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **seem** | present | that |  |  |  |  | in a funny way; serious *property* | vn seem-109-1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Theme in way=Attribute |

<!-- .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 -->
In a dry way, without water or wetness (rare).

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:drily:m2:1
# text = In a dry way, without water or wetness (rare).
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	dry	dry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
6	without	without	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	wetness	wetness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	_
10	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	rare	rare	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Oh, brilliant,» said Dad drily, as the rain came down on our picnic.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:drily:x1:1
# text = «Oh, brilliant,» said Dad drily, as the rain came down on our picnic.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Oh	oh	INTJ	UH	_	4	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	brilliant	brilliant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
7	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	Dad	Dad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
9	drily	drily	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
11	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	_
14	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	_
15	down	down	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
16	on	on	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	18	nmod:poss	_	_
18	picnic	picnic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | Dad |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **come down** | past | the rain |  |  | our picnic |  | down *property* | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on picnic=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Lovely weather for ducks,» Grandpa remarked drily.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:drily:x2:1
# text = «Lovely weather for ducks,» Grandpa remarked drily.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Lovely	lovely	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	weather	weather	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	ducks	duck	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
8	Grandpa	Grandpa	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	remarked	remark	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	drily	drily	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **remark** *speech: assert* | past | Grandpa | Lovely weather for ducks |  |  |  | drily *property* | vn lecture-37.11-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She smiled drily at his excuse.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:drily:x3:1
# text = She smiled drily at his excuse.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	smiled	smile	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	drily	drily	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	excuse	excuse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **smile** | past | She |  |  | his excuse |  | drily *property* | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **excuse** |  | his *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom excuse «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«I'm sure the homework ate itself,» the teacher said drily.

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:drily:x4:1
# text = «I'm sure the homework ate itself,» the teacher said drily.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	'm	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	sure	sure	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	homework	homework	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	ate	eat	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	ccomp	_	_
8	itself	itself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
13	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	parataxis	_	_
14	drily	drily	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** *in a quote* | present | the teacher *= teacher* |  |  |  |  | sure *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **eat** *in a quote* | past | the homework | homework |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent itself=Patient |
| 3 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | the teacher |  |  |  |  | drily *property* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He answered drily, without a smile.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:drily:x5:1
# text = He answered drily, without a smile.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	answered	answer	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	drily	drily	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
5	without	without	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	smile	smile	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **answer** *speech: assert* | past | He |  |  |  |  | drily *property* | vn reciprocate-112-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The comedian spoke drily, which made it even funnier.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:drily:x6:1
# text = The comedian spoke drily, which made it even funnier.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	comedian	comedian	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	spoke	speak	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	drily	drily	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
6	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	even	even	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	funnier	funny	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **speak** *speech: other* | past | the comedian |  |  |  |  | drily *property* | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **make** | past |  | comedian |  |  |  | funny *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset it=Product |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
‘Top Off,’ said the Cat drily.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:drily:x7:1
# text = ‘Top Off,’ said the Cat drily.
1	‘	'	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Top	Top	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	Off	off	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	’	'	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
6	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	Cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	drily	drily	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | Top | the Cat |  |  |  | drily *property* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent cat=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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