---
title: elicit — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «elicit» in the school dictionary: To get a reaction, answer or information from someone, often by asking questions or doing something. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# elicit

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, trick, clown, question, teacher, police · **What happens:** get, answer, ask, do, elicit, trick · **To what, where:** reaction, information, someone, questions, something, laughter · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To get a reaction, answer or information from someone, often by asking questions or doing something.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:elicit:m1:1
# text = To get a reaction, answer or information from someone, often by asking questions or doing something.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	csubj	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	reaction	reaction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	answer	answer	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	information	information	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	from	from	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
12	often	often	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
13	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
14	asking	ask	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	advcl	_	_
15	questions	question	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	obj	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	doing	do	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	14	conj	_	_
18	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	17	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | to-infinitive |  | a reaction |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer reaction=Stimulus |
| 2 | **answer** *speech: assert* | imperative | you *not said here* | information |  | someone |  |  | vn reciprocate-112-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent information=Eventuality |
| 3 | **ask** *speech: ask* | gerund | you *not said here* | questions |  |  |  | often *property* | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent question=Recipient |
| 4 | **do** | gerund | you *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |

<!-- .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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The clown's trick elicited laughter from the children.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:elicit:x1:1
# text = The clown's trick elicited laughter from the children.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	clown	clown	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	trick	trick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	elicited	elicit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	laughter	laughter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
7	from	from	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **elicit** | past | the clown's trick | laughter |  |  |  | from the children | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition laughter=Patient |
| 2 | **trick** |  | the clown |  |  |  |  |  | nom trick «act transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The teacher's question elicited many good answers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:elicit:x2:1
# text = The teacher's question elicited many good answers.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	question	question	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	elicited	elicit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
7	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	answers	answer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **elicit** | past | the teacher's question | many good answers |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition answer=Patient |
| 2 | **question** |  | the teacher |  |  |  |  |  | nom question «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The police tried to elicit information from the witness.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:elicit:x3:1
# text = The police tried to elicit information from the witness.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	police	police	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	tried	try	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	elicit	elicit	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	information	information	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
7	from	from	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	witness	witness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | past | the police |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **elicit** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | the police *not said here* | information |  | the witness |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition information=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His sad story elicited sympathy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:elicit:x4:1
# text = His sad story elicited sympathy.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	sad	sad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	elicited	elicit	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	amod	_	_
5	sympathy	sympathy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **elicit** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A loud noise elicits a jump from most people.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:elicit:x5:1
# text = A loud noise elicits a jump from most people.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	loud	loud	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	noise	noise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	elicits	elicit	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	jump	jump	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	from	from	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	most	most	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	9	amod	_	_
9	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **elicit** | present | a loud noise | a jump |  |  |  | from most people | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition jump=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her joke failed to elicit even a smile.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:elicit:x6:1
# text = Her joke failed to elicit even a smile.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	joke	joke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	failed	fail	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	elicit	elicit	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	even	even	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	smile	smile	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fail** | past | Her joke |  |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **not** **elicit** | to-infinitive | Her joke *not said here* | a smile |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition |
| 3 | **joke** |  | Her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom joke «communication intransitive»: poss=agent |

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**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.

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