---
title: evil — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «evil» in the school dictionary: Evil means very bad and cruel, wanting to hurt others. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# evil

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Evil, bad thing, evil witch, villain, He, Bullying · **What happens:** mean, want, hurt, be, cause, cast · **To what, where:** others, great wickedness, bad thing, harm, evil people, spell · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«evil» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [evil in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/evil.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Evil means very bad and cruel, wanting to hurt others.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:evil:m1:1
# text = Evil means very bad and cruel, wanting to hurt others.
1	Evil	evil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	very	very	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	cruel	cruel	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	wanting	want	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	ccomp	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	hurt	hurt	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	xcomp	_	_
11	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Evil |  |  |  |  | bad *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **want** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 3 | **hurt** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | others |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer other=Patient |

<!-- .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 -->
Evil is great wickedness and harm.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:evil:m2:1
# text = Evil is great wickedness and harm.
1	Evil	evil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	wickedness	wickedness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	harm	harm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Evil | great wickedness and harm |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An evil is a very bad thing that causes harm, as in «the lesser of two evils».

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:evil:m3:1
# text = An evil is a very bad thing that causes harm, as in «the lesser of two evils».
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	evil	evil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	very	very	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
9	causes	cause	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
10	harm	harm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
12	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	16	mark	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
14	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	lesser	less	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	7	parataxis	_	_
17	of	of	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	19	nummod	_	_
19	evils	evil	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a evil | a bad thing |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **cause** | present | a bad thing | harm |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition harm=Patient |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The evil can mean evil people, the wicked ones.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:evil:m4:1
# text = The evil can mean evil people, the wicked ones.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	evil	evil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	evil	evil	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	wicked	wicked	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	ones	one	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can | the evil | evil people and the wicked ones |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent people=Topic |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The evil witch cast a spell on the princess.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:evil:x1:1
# text = The evil witch cast a spell on the princess.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	evil	evil	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	witch	witch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	cast	cast	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	spell	spell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	princess	princess	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cast** | past | the evil witch | a spell |  |  |  | on the princess | vn throw-17.1 «NP V NP PP.destinations»: agent=Agent spell=Theme on princess=Destination |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the end, good defeated evil.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:evil:x2:1
# text = In the end, good defeated evil.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	end	end	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	defeated	defeat	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	amod	_	_
7	evil	evil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **defeat** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The villain had an evil plan to steal the crown.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:evil:x3:1
# text = The villain had an evil plan to steal the crown.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	villain	villain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	evil	evil	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	plan	plan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	steal	steal	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	acl	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	crown	crown	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the villain | a evil plan |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent plan=Patient |
| 2 | **steal** | to-infinitive | the villain *not said here* | the crown |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location crown=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He gave an evil laugh in the school play.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:evil:x4:1
# text = He gave an evil laugh in the school play.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	evil	evil	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	laugh	laugh	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	play	play	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | He | a evil laugh |  | the school play |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent laugh=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Bullying is cruel, not just naughty.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:evil:x5:1
# text = Bullying is cruel, not just naughty.
1	Bullying	bullying	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	cruel	cruel	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
5	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
6	just	just	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	naughty	naughty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Choosing between them was the lesser of two evils.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:evil:x6:1
# text = Choosing between them was the lesser of two evils.
1	Choosing	choose	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	csubj	_	_
2	between	between	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	1	obl	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	lesser	less	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	evils	evil	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **choose** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | between them *= they* | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | past | Choosing |  |  |  |  | of two evils; less *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cat gave the dog an evil look.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:evil:x7:1
# text = The cat gave the dog an evil look.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	gave	give	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	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	evil	evil	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	look	look	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | the cat | a evil look | the dog |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent dog=Recipient look=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Kindness is thrown away upon the evil.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:evil:x8:1
# text = Kindness is thrown away upon the evil.
1	Kindness	kindness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	thrown	throw	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	away	away	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	upon	upon	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	evil	evil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **throw away** | present · passive |  | Kindness |  | the evil |  | away *property* | vn throw-17.1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.destinations»: subject=Theme upon evil=Destination |

<!-- 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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