---
title: feeble — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «feeble» in the school dictionary: Very weak, without strength or energy. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# feeble

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** baby bird, she, That, feeble excuse, torch, He · **What happens:** be, not fly, say, not do, give, make · **To what, where:** feeble voice, feeble excuse, homework, feeble light, feeble attempt, box · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Very weak, without strength or energy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:feeble:m1:1
# text = Very weak, without strength or energy.
1	Very	very	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	weak	weak	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
4	without	without	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	strength	strength	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	energy	energy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Not good enough or not convincing: «a feeble excuse», «a feeble joke».

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:feeble:m2:1
# text = Not good enough or not convincing: «a feeble excuse», «a feeble joke».
1	Not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
3	enough	enough	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
5	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	6	advmod	_	_
6	convincing	convincing	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	feeble	feeble	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	excuse	excuse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
14	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	feeble	feeble	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	joke	joke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The baby bird was feeble and couldn't fly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:feeble:x1:1
# text = The baby bird was feeble and couldn't fly.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	feeble	feeble	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
7	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
9	fly	fly	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the baby bird |  |  |  |  | feeble *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **fly** | could | the baby bird *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Help," she said in a feeble voice.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:feeble:x2:1
# text = "Help," she said in a feeble voice.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Help	help	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
5	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	feeble	feeble	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	voice	voice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | she |  |  | a feeble voice |  |  | vn pronounce-29.3.1 «NP V NP PP.manner»: agent=Agent in voice=Manner |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
That's a feeble excuse for not doing your homework!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:feeble:x3:1
# text = That's a feeble excuse for not doing your homework!
1	That	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	feeble	feeble	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	excuse	excuse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
7	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
8	doing	do	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	acl	_	_
9	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	homework	homework	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | That | a feeble excuse |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **do** | gerund | a feeble excuse *not said here* | your homework |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent homework=Eventuality |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The torch gave a feeble light.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:feeble:x4:1
# text = The torch gave a feeble light.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	torch	torch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	feeble	feeble	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He made a feeble attempt to lift the box.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:feeble:x5:1
# text = He made a feeble attempt to lift the box.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	feeble	feeble	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	attempt	attempt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	lift	lift	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	box	box	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | He | a feeble attempt |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent attempt=Product |
| 2 | **lift** | to-infinitive | He *not said here* | the box |  |  |  |  | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent box=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The joke was so feeble nobody laughed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:feeble:x6:1
# text = The joke was so feeble nobody laughed.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	joke	joke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	so	so	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	feeble	feeble	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	nobody	nobody	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	7	nsubj	_	_
7	laughed	laugh	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the joke |  |  |  |  | feeble *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **laugh** | past | nobody |  |  |  |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Years went over, and the Giant grew very old and feeble.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:feeble:x7:1
# text = Years went over, and the Giant grew very old and feeble.
1	Years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	over	over	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	Giant	giant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	nsubj	_	_
8	grew	grow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
9	very	very	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	xcomp	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	feeble	feeble	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go over** | past | Years |  |  |  |  | over *property* | vn occur-48.3-2 «NP V ADV»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **grow** | past | the Giant |  |  |  |  | old *property* | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=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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