---
title: dun — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «dun» in the school dictionary: Dun is a dull greyish-brown colour. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# dun

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Dun, they, farmer, moor, She, old · **What happens:** be, dun, ask, pay, owe, do · **To what, where:** dull brown colour, horse, someone, them, money, spelling

<!-- .vabout -->
«dun» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [dun in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/dun.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dun is a dull greyish-brown colour.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dun:m1:1
# text = Dun is a dull greyish-brown colour.
1	Dun	dun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
4	dull	dull	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
5	greyish	greyish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	brown	brown	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	colour	colour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Dun | a dull brown colour |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .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 dun is a horse of this colour, usually with a darker mane and tail.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dun:m2:1
# text = A dun is a horse of this colour, usually with a darker mane and tail.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dun	dun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	horse	horse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	8	det	_	_
8	colour	colour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
10	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
11	with	with	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	darker	dark	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	14	amod	_	_
14	mane	mane	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	appos	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	tail	tail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a dun | a horse |  |  |  | of this colour | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To dun someone is to keep asking them firmly to pay money they owe.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dun:m3:1
# text = To dun someone is to keep asking them firmly to pay money they owe.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	dun	dun	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	keep	keep	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	asking	ask	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	xcomp	_	_
8	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	firmly	firmly	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	pay	pay	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
12	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	_
13	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
14	owe	owe	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dun** | to-infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | keep *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **ask** *speech: ask* | gerund |  |  | them *= they* |  |  | firmly *property* | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP whether S\_INF»: agent=Agent they=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 4 | **pay** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | money |  |  |  |  | vn pay-68-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent money=Asset |
| 5 | **owe** | present | they | money *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn future\_having-13.3 «NP V NP.theme (PP)»: agent=Agent money=Theme |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In some dialects «dun» is just a spelling of «done» in very casual writing.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dun:m4:1
# text = In some dialects «dun» is just a spelling of «done» in very casual writing.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	3	det	_	_
3	dialects	dialect	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obl	_	_
4	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	dun	dun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
8	just	just	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	spelling	spelling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
11	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
12	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	done	do	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	13	punct	_	_
15	in	in	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
16	very	very	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
17	casual	casual	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	writing	writing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | dun | a spelling |  | some dialects |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **do** *in a quote* | participle |  | a spelling *not said here* |  | casual writing |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The farmer rode a dun pony with a black mane.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dun:x1:1
# text = The farmer rode a dun pony with a black mane.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	farmer	farmer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	rode	ride	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	dun	dun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	pony	pony	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	black	black	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	mane	mane	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ride** | past | the farmer | a dun pony |  |  |  | with a black mane | vn nonvehicle-51.4.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pony=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The moor was dun and brown in winter.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dun:x2:1
# text = The moor was dun and brown in winter.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	moor	moor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	dun	dun	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	brown	brown	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	winter	winter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the moor |  |  |  | winter | dun *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | the moor *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She wore a plain dun coat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dun:x3:1
# text = She wore a plain dun coat.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	wore	wear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
4	plain	plain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
5	dun	dun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	coat	coat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wear** | past | She | a plain dun coat |  |  |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent coat=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
(old) The landlord dunned him for the rent.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dun:x4:1
# text = (old) The landlord dunned him for the rent.
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
4	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	landlord	landlord	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	dunned	dun	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	rent	rent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dun** | past | old | landlord |  |  |  | for the rent | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The sparrow's feathers are dun and grey.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dun:x5:1
# text = The sparrow's feathers are dun and grey.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sparrow	sparrow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	feathers	feather	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
5	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	dun	dun	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	grey	grey	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the sparrow's feathers |  |  |  |  | dun *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | the sparrow's feathers *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the old book, a dun cow grazed in the field.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dun:x6:1
# text = In the old book, a dun cow grazed in the field.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	dun	dun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	cow	cow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	grazed	graze	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	acl	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	field	field	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **graze** | participle |  | a dun cow *not said here* |  | the field |  |  | vn dine-39.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- 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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