---
title: dunce — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «dunce» in the school dictionary: A person who is slow to learn or thought to be stupid, especially a pupil. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# dunce

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** person, pupils, dunce, teacher, him, Calling · **What happens:** be, learn, think, make, wear, have · **To what, where:** pupils, old school, corner, him, cap, someone · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A person who is slow to learn or thought to be stupid, especially a pupil.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dunce:m1:1
# text = A person who is slow to learn or thought to be stupid, especially a pupil.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	slow	slow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	learn	learn	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	advcl	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	thought	think	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	conj	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
11	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	cop	_	_
12	stupid	stupid	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
14	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	pupil	pupil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a person |  |  |  |  | slow *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **learn** | to-infinitive | a person *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **think** *speech: other* | participle | a person *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **is** | to-infinitive | a person *not said here* |  |  |  |  | a pupil *obl*; stupid *property* | 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 -->
In «dunce's cap» (dunce cap): a tall paper cone hat that pupils in old schools were made to wear as a punishment.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dunce:m2:1
# text = In «dunce's cap» (dunce cap): a tall paper cone hat that pupils in old schools were made to wear as a punishment.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
2	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	dunce	dunce	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	's	's	PART	POS	_	3	case	_	_
5	cap	cap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
7	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	dunce	dunce	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	cap	cap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	16	punct	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
13	tall	tall	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
14	paper	paper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	compound	_	_
15	cone	cone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	compound	_	_
16	hat	hat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
17	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	23	obj	_	_
18	pupils	pupil	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	23	nsubj:pass	_	_
19	in	in	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
20	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	21	amod	_	_
21	schools	school	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	nmod	_	_
22	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	23	aux:pass	_	_
23	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	16	acl:relcl	_	_
24	to	to	PART	TO	_	25	mark	_	_
25	wear	wear	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	23	xcomp	_	_
26	as	as	ADP	IN	_	28	case	_	_
27	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	28	det	_	_
28	punishment	punishment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past · passive |  | pupils in old schools |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **wear** | to-infinitive | pupils in old schools *not said here* |  |  |  |  | as a punishment | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V PP-Conative»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the old school, the dunce had to sit in the corner.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dunce:x1:1
# text = In the old school, the dunce had to sit in the corner.
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	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	dunce	dunce	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	sit	sit	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	xcomp	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	corner	corner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the dunce |  |  | the old school |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **sit** | to-infinitive | the dunce *not said here* |  |  | the corner |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent in corner=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The teacher made him wear a dunce's cap.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dunce:x2:1
# text = The teacher made him wear a dunce's cap.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	wear	wear	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	dunce	dunce	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	's	PART	POS	_	7	case	_	_
9	cap	cap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | the teacher | him *= he* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **wear** | infinitive | him *= he* *not said here* | a dunce's cap |  |  |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent cap=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Calling someone a dunce is unkind.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dunce:x3:1
# text = Calling someone a dunce is unkind.
1	Calling	call	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	csubj	_	_
2	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	1	obj	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	dunce	dunce	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	unkind	unkind	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | gerund |  | someone |  |  |  |  | vn dub-29.3.2 «NP V NP NP»: agent=Agent someone=Theme dunce=Result |
| 2 | **is** | present | Calling |  |  |  |  | unkind *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Toad acted like a dunce, but he thought he was clever.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dunce:x4:1
# text = Toad acted like a dunce, but he thought he was clever.
1	Toad	Toad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	acted	act	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	like	like	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	dunce	dunce	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	thought	think	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
10	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
11	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
12	clever	clever	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **act** | past | Toad |  |  |  |  | like a dunce | vn masquerade-29.6-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Agent like dunce=Attribute |
| 2 | **think** *speech: other* | past | Toad |  |  |  |  |  | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is** | past | Toad |  |  |  |  | clever *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«I'm such a dunce at maths!» she laughed – but she was wrong.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dunce:x5:1
# text = «I'm such a dunce at maths!» she laughed – but she was wrong.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	'm	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	such	such	DET	PDT	PronType=Ind	6	det:predet	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	dunce	dunce	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	ccomp	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	maths	math	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
11	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
12	laughed	laugh	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
13	–	-	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
14	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
15	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	nsubj	_	_
16	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	17	cop	_	_
17	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** *in a quote* | present | I | such dunce |  | maths |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **laugh** | past | she |  |  |  |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is** | past | she |  |  |  |  | wrong *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Today no teacher uses a dunce's cap.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dunce:x6:1
# text = Today no teacher uses a dunce's cap.
1	Today	today	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl:unmarked	_	_
2	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	3	det	_	_
3	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	uses	use	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	dunce	dunce	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	's	's	PART	POS	_	6	case	_	_
8	cap	cap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | no teacher | a dunce's cap |  |  | today |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cap=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Once upon a time there lived an old couple who had three sons; the two elder were clever, but the third was a regular dunce.

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dunce:x7:1
# text = Once upon a time there lived an old couple who had three sons; the two elder were clever, but the third was a regular dunce.
1	Once	once	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	6	advmod	_	_
2	upon	upon	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
5	there	there	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	6	advmod	_	_
6	lived	live	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	couple	couple	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
10	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
11	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	_
12	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	13	nummod	_	_
13	sons	son	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	19	punct	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	17	nummod	_	_
17	elder	elder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	nsubj	_	_
18	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	19	cop	_	_
19	clever	clever	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	27	punct	_	_
21	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	27	cc	_	_
22	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
23	third	third	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	27	nsubj	_	_
24	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	27	cop	_	_
25	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	27	det	_	_
26	regular	regular	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	27	amod	_	_
27	dunce	dunce	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** | past |  | a old couple |  | there | time | once *property* | vn lodge-46 «NP V ADV»: agent=Theme couple=Location |
| 2 | **have** | past | a old couple | three sons |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent son=Patient |
| 3 | **is** | past | the two elder |  |  |  |  | clever *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **is a** | past | the third | a regular dunce |  |  |  |  | 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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