---
title: enslave — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «enslave» in the school dictionary: To enslave people is to make them slaves: owned by others and forced to work without pay or freedom. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# enslave

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** they, Bible, Harriet, enslaved people, It, you · **What happens:** enslave, be, own, force, work, not be · **To what, where:** people, someone, Israelites, Egypt, Millions, Atlantic · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To enslave people is to make them slaves: owned by others and forced to work without pay or freedom.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:enslave:m1:1
# text = To enslave people is to make them slaves: owned by others and forced to work without pay or freedom.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	enslave	enslave	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	csubj	_	_
3	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	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	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	slaves	slave	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
10	owned	own	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	conj	_	_
11	by	by	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obl:agent	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	forced	force	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	conj	_	_
15	to	to	PART	TO	_	16	mark	_	_
16	work	work	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	xcomp	_	_
17	without	without	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
18	pay	pay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	_
19	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
20	freedom	freedom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **enslave** | to-infinitive |  | people |  |  |  |  | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent people=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | make *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **own** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn own-100.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot |
| 4 | **force** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn urge-58.1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 5 | **work** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | without pay or freedom | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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 -->
To enslave someone is to control them so completely that they are not free, like a habit.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:enslave:m2:1
# text = To enslave someone is to control them so completely that they are not free, like a habit.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	enslave	enslave	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	control	control	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	so	so	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	completely	completely	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
10	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
11	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
12	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	cop	_	_
13	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	14	advmod	_	_
14	free	free	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
16	like	like	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	habit	habit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **enslave** | to-infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  |  | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent someone=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | completely, control *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **not** **is** | present | they |  |  |  |  | like a habit; free *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Israelites were enslaved in Egypt, the Bible tells.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:enslave:x1:1
# text = The Israelites were enslaved in Egypt, the Bible tells.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Israelites	Israelite	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	enslaved	enslave	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	Egypt	Egypt	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	Bible	Bible	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
10	tells	tell	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **enslave** | past · passive |  | the Israelites |  | Egypt |  |  | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* | present | the Bible | Egypt *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent egypt=Recipient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Millions of Africans were enslaved and taken across the Atlantic.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:enslave:x2:1
# text = Millions of Africans were enslaved and taken across the Atlantic.
1	Millions	million	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	Africans	African	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	1	nmod	_	_
4	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	enslaved	enslave	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	taken	take	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	conj	_	_
8	across	across	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	Atlantic	Atlantic	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **enslave** | past · passive |  | Millions of Africans |  |  |  |  | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |
| 2 | **take** | participle |  |  |  | the Atlantic |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Harriet Tubman helped enslaved people escape to freedom.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:enslave:x3:1
# text = Harriet Tubman helped enslaved people escape to freedom.
1	Harriet	Harriet	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	Tubman	Tubman	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	flat	_	_
3	helped	help	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	enslaved	enslave	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	amod	_	_
5	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
6	escape	escape	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	freedom	freedom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | past | Harriet |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **enslave** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **escape** | present | enslaved people |  |  | freedom |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme to freedom=Initial\_Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It is wrong to enslave anyone.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:enslave:x4:1
# text = It is wrong to enslave anyone.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	enslave	enslave	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	csubj	_	_
6	anyone	anyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | It |  |  |  |  | wrong *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **enslave** | to-infinitive |  | anyone |  |  |  |  | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent anyone=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't let video games enslave you.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:enslave:x5:1
# text = Don't let video games enslave you.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	let	let	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	video	video	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	games	game	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
6	enslave	enslave	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
7	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **let** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **enslave** | present | video games | you |  |  |  |  | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent you=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Enslaved workers had no wages and no rights.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:enslave:x6:1
# text = Enslaved workers had no wages and no rights.
1	Enslaved	enslave	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	amod	_	_
2	workers	worker	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	5	det	_	_
5	wages	wage	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	8	det	_	_
8	rights	right	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **enslave** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **have** | past | Enslaved workers | no wages and no rights |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent wage=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
From that hour he found that instead of obtaining revenge on the Stag, he had enslaved himself to the service of man.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:enslave:x7:1
# text = From that hour he found that instead of obtaining revenge on the Stag, he had enslaved himself to the service of man.
1	From	from	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	3	det	_	_
3	hour	hour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
4	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	found	find	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	17	mark	_	_
7	instead	instead	ADV	RB	ExtPos=SCONJ	9	mark	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	fixed	_	_
9	obtaining	obtain	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	17	advcl	_	_
10	revenge	revenge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
11	on	on	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	Stag	Stag	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
15	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	nsubj	_	_
16	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	17	aux	_	_
17	enslaved	enslave	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	5	ccomp	_	_
18	himself	himself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	17	obj	_	_
19	to	to	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
20	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	service	service	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obl	_	_
22	of	of	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
23	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **find** | past | he |  |  |  | hour |  | vn declare-29.4-1-1 «NP V what S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **obtain** | gerund | he *not said here* | revenge |  | the Stag |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset revenge=Theme |
| 3 | **enslave** | past · perfect | he | himself *= he* |  |  |  | to the service of man | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent himself=Patient |
| 4 | **service** |  |  | man |  |  |  |  | nom service «act transitive»: of=patient |

<!-- 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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