---
title: fatherless — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «fatherless» in the school dictionary: Fatherless means without a father, because he has died, left or is not known. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# fatherless

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Fatherless, he, grandmother, charity, psalm, God · **What happens:** mean, die, leave, not know, name, care · **To what, where:** children, fatherless boy, story, fatherless children, fatherless, her · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fatherless means without a father, because he has died, left or is not known.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fatherless:m1:1
# text = Fatherless means without a father, because he has died, left or is not known.
1	Fatherless	fatherless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	without	without	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	father	father	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
7	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
8	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
9	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	died	die	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	2	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	left	leave	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	10	conj	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
14	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	aux:pass	_	_
15	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	16	advmod	_	_
16	known	know	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Fatherless |  |  |  |  | without a father | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **die** | present · perfect | he |  |  |  |  |  | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1 «NP.attribute V»: agent=Attribute |
| 3 | **leave** | participle | he *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **not** **know** | present · passive | he *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V» |

<!-- .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 -->
In old writing, «the fatherless» means children without fathers, often named with widows as people to care for.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fatherless:m2:1
# text = In old writing, «the fatherless» means children without fathers, often named with widows as people to care for.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	writing	writing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	fatherless	fatherless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	_
9	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	_
11	without	without	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	fathers	father	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
14	often	often	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
15	named	name	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	conj	_	_
16	with	with	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	widows	widow	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	obl	_	_
18	as	as	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	obl	_	_
20	to	to	PART	TO	_	21	mark	_	_
21	care	care	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	advcl	_	_
22	for	for	ADP	IN	_	21	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | the fatherless | children |  |  |  | without fathers; in old writing | vn representation-110.1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Pivot child=Theme in writing=Attribute |
| 2 | **name** | participle | the fatherless *not said here* |  |  |  |  | with widows; as people; often *property* | vn appoint-29.1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Agent as people=Attribute |
| 3 | **care** | to-infinitive | the fatherless *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn care-88.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the story, the fatherless boy was raised by his grandmother.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fatherless:x1:1
# text = In the story, the fatherless boy was raised by his grandmother.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	fatherless	fatherless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj:pass	_	_
8	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux:pass	_	_
9	raised	raise	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
10	by	by	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	grandmother	grandmother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **raise** | past · passive | boy's grandmother | the fatherless boy |  | the story |  |  | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent subject=Theme in story=Destination |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The charity helps fatherless children with school costs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fatherless:x2:1
# text = The charity helps fatherless children with school costs.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	charity	charity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	helps	help	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	fatherless	fatherless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	costs	cost	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | present | the charity |  | fatherless children |  |  | with school costs | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent child=Beneficiary with cost=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
(Bible) The psalm says God defends the fatherless.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fatherless:x3:1
# text = (Bible) The psalm says God defends the fatherless.
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Bible	Bible	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
4	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	psalm	psalm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	God	God	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	defends	defend	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	ccomp	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	fatherless	fatherless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | the psalm |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **defend** | present | God | the fatherless |  |  |  |  | vn defend-72.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fatherless=Beneficiary |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Being fatherless did not stop her becoming a great scientist.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fatherless:x4:1
# text = Being fatherless did not stop her becoming a great scientist.
1	Being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	cop	_	_
2	fatherless	fatherless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	csubj	_	_
3	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	stop	stop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	obj	_	_
7	becoming	become	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	xcomp	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	scientist	scientist	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | fatherless *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **stop** | past · do-support |  | her *= she* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **become** | gerund |  | a great scientist |  |  |  |  | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Many famous people grew up fatherless.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fatherless:x5:1
# text = Many famous people grew up fatherless.
1	Many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
2	famous	famous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	grew	grow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	up	up	ADP	RP	_	4	compound:prt	_	_
6	fatherless	fatherless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grow up** | past | Many famous people |  |  |  |  | fatherless *property* | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The village looked after the fatherless family.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fatherless:x6:1
# text = The village looked after the fatherless family.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	village	village	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	after	after	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	fatherless	fatherless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	family	family	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 | **look** | past | the village |  |  |  | after the fatherless family |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |

<!-- 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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