---
title: ensnare — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «ensnare» in the school dictionary: To ensnare an animal is to catch it in a snare or trap. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# ensnare

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** they, web, wire trap, Scammers, lies, villain · **What happens:** ensnare, be, not get out, try, lie, feed · **To what, where:** animal, snare, person, bad situation, fly, rabbit

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To ensnare an animal is to catch it in a snare or trap.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ensnare:m1:1
# text = To ensnare an animal is to catch it in a snare or trap.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	ensnare	ensnare	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	advcl	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	catch	catch	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	snare	snare	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	trap	trap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ensnare** | to-infinitive |  | a animal |  |  |  |  | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent animal=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  | a snare or trap |  | catch *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 -->
To ensnare a person is to trick them into a bad situation they cannot easily get out of.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ensnare:m2:1
# text = To ensnare a person is to trick them into a bad situation they cannot easily get out of.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	ensnare	ensnare	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	advcl	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	trick	trick	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	into	into	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	situation	situation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
13	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	nsubj	_	_
14	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	17	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	17	advmod	_	_
16	easily	easily	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
17	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	acl:relcl	_	_
18	out	out	ADP	IN	_	17	advmod	_	_
19	of	of	ADP	IN	_	18	fixed	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ensnare** | to-infinitive |  | a person |  |  |  |  | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent person=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  | a bad situation |  | trick *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **not** **get out** | can | they | a bad situation *not said here* |  |  |  | easily *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The spider's web ensnared a fly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ensnare:x1:1
# text = The spider's web ensnared a fly.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	spider	spider	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	web	web	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	ensnared	ensnare	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	fly	fly	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ensnare** | past | the spider's web | a fly |  |  |  |  | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fly=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The rabbit was ensnared by a wire trap.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ensnare:x2:1
# text = The rabbit was ensnared by a wire trap.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	rabbit	rabbit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	ensnared	ensnare	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	wire	wire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	trap	trap	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 | **ensnare** | past · passive | a wire trap | the rabbit |  |  |  |  | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent subject=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scammers try to ensnare people with fake prizes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ensnare:x3:1
# text = Scammers try to ensnare people with fake prizes.
1	Scammers	scammer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	try	try	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	ensnare	ensnare	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	fake	fake	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	prizes	prize	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | present | Scammers |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **ensnare** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | Scammers *not said here* | people |  |  |  | with fake prizes | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent people=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The hero was ensnared by the villain's lies.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ensnare:x4:1
# text = The hero was ensnared by the villain's lies.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	hero	hero	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	ensnared	ensnare	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	villain	villain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	's	PART	POS	_	7	case	_	_
9	lies	lie	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl:agent	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ensnare** | past · passive | the villain's lies | the hero |  |  |  |  | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent subject=Patient |
| 2 | **lie** |  | the villain |  |  |  |  |  | nom lie «communication intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The net ensnared the fish.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ensnare:x5:1
# text = The net ensnared the fish.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	net	net	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	ensnared	ensnare	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ensnare** | past | the net | the fish |  |  |  |  | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fish=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The sticky plant ensnares insects.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ensnare:x6:1
# text = The sticky plant ensnares insects.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	sticky	sticky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	plant	plant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	ensnares	ensnare	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	insects	insect	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ensnare** | present | the sticky plant | insects |  |  |  |  | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent insect=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
THE GEESE and the Cranes were feeding in the same meadow, when a birdcatcher came to ensnare them in his nets.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ensnare:x7:1
# text = THE GEESE and the Cranes were feeding in the same meadow, when a birdcatcher came to ensnare them in his nets.
1	THE	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	GEESE	goose	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	Cranes	Crane	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	_
6	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	feeding	feed	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	same	same	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	meadow	meadow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
13	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	16	mark	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	birdcatcher	birdcatcher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nsubj	_	_
16	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	_
17	to	to	PART	TO	_	18	mark	_	_
18	ensnare	ensnare	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	16	xcomp	_	_
19	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	18	obj	_	_
20	in	in	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
21	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	22	nmod:poss	_	_
22	nets	net	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **feed** | past · progressive | the GEESE and the Cranes |  |  | the same meadow |  |  | vn fit-54.3 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent in meadow=Location |
| 2 | **come** | past | a birdcatcher |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **ensnare** | to-infinitive | a birdcatcher *not said here* | GEESE *= goose* |  | birdcatcher's nets |  |  | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent they=Patient |

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