---
title: faintly — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «faintly» in the school dictionary: Weakly, quietly or not clearly, so it is hard to see, hear or smell. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# faintly

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** stars, I, room, She, He, writing · **What happens:** be, see, hear, smell, shine, smile · **To what, where:** clouds, bell, eyes, old paper, end, Peter

<!-- .vabout -->
«faintly» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [faintly in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/faintly.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Weakly, quietly or not clearly, so it is hard to see, hear or smell.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:faintly:m1:1
# text = Weakly, quietly or not clearly, so it is hard to see, hear or smell.
1	Weakly	weakly	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
3	quietly	quietly	ADV	RB	_	1	conj	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
5	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	6	advmod	_	_
6	clearly	clearly	ADV	RB	_	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
8	so	so	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	expl	_	_
10	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
11	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	see	see	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
15	hear	hear	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	conj	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	smell	smell	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | hard, weakly *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **see** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **hear** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V PP.stimulus»: agent=Experiencer |
| 4 | **smell** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn smell\_emission-43.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- .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 -->
Slightly; a little: «faintly surprised».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:faintly:m2:1
# text = Slightly; a little: «faintly surprised».
1	Slightly	slightly	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
6	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	faintly	faintly	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	surprised	surprised	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The stars shone faintly through the clouds.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:faintly:x1:1
# text = The stars shone faintly through the clouds.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	stars	star	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	shone	shine	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	faintly	faintly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	through	through	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	clouds	cloud	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shine** | past | the stars |  |  | the clouds |  | faintly *property* | vn light\_emission-43.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme through cloud=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I could faintly hear the bell.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:faintly:x2:1
# text = I could faintly hear the bell.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	faintly	faintly	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	hear	hear	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	bell	bell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hear** | could | I | the bell |  |  |  | faintly *property* | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer bell=Stimulus |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The room smelled faintly of paint.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:faintly:x3:1
# text = The room smelled faintly of paint.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	room	room	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	smelled	smell	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	faintly	faintly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	paint	paint	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **smell** | past | the room |  |  |  |  | of paint; faintly *property* | vn smell\_emission-43.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Location of paint=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She smiled faintly and closed her eyes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:faintly:x4:1
# text = She smiled faintly and closed her eyes.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	smiled	smile	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	faintly	faintly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	closed	close	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
6	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	eyes	eye	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **smile** | past | She |  |  |  |  | faintly *property* | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **close** | past | She *not said here* | her eyes |  |  |  |  | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent eye=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He looked faintly annoyed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:faintly:x5:1
# text = He looked faintly annoyed.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	faintly	faintly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	annoyed	annoyed	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | past | He |  |  |  |  | annoyed, faintly *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The writing was faintly visible on the old paper.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:faintly:x6:1
# text = The writing was faintly visible on the old paper.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	writing	writing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	faintly	faintly	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	visible	visible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	paper	paper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the writing |  |  | the old paper |  | faintly, visible *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The light glowed faintly at the end of the tunnel.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:faintly:x7:1
# text = The light glowed faintly at the end of the tunnel.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	glowed	glow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	faintly	faintly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	end	end	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	tunnel	tunnel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **glow** | past | the light |  |  |  | at the end of the tunnel | faintly *property* | vn light\_emission-43.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme at end=Location |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
“Hullo, Peter,” she replied faintly, squeezing herself as small as possible.

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:faintly:x8:1
# text = “Hullo, Peter,” she replied faintly, squeezing herself as small as possible.
1	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Hullo	hullo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	Peter	Peter	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
7	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	replied	reply	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	faintly	faintly	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
11	squeezing	squeeze	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	8	advcl	_	_
12	herself	herself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	11	obj	_	_
13	as	as	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
14	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	xcomp	_	_
15	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	16	mark	_	_
16	possible	possible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **reply** *speech: assert* | past | Peter |  |  |  |  | faintly *property* | vn respond-113 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **squeeze** | gerund | Peter *not said here* | Peter |  |  |  | small *property* | vn push-12-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent herself=Theme |

<!-- 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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