---
title: ferret — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «ferret» in the school dictionary: A small, long, thin furry animal related to the weasel, kept as a pet or once used to chase rabbits out of their holes. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# ferret

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** neighbour, Ferrets, She, detective, you, woman · **What happens:** relate, keep, use, chase, ferret, be · **To what, where:** small long thin furry animal, pet, rabbits, holes, two pet ferrets, ferret · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«ferret» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [ferret in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/ferret.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A small, long, thin furry animal related to the weasel, kept as a pet or once used to chase rabbits out of their holes.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ferret:m1:1
# text = A small, long, thin furry animal related to the weasel, kept as a pet or once used to chase rabbits out of their holes.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
2	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	thin	thin	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
7	furry	furry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	related	relate	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	acl	_	_
10	to	to	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	weasel	weasel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	kept	keep	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	parataxis	_	_
15	as	as	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	pet	pet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	_
18	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
19	once	once	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	20	advmod	_	_
20	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	17	acl:relcl	_	_
21	to	to	PART	TO	_	22	mark	_	_
22	chase	chase	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	20	xcomp	_	_
23	rabbits	rabbit	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	22	obj	_	_
24	out	out	ADP	IN	_	27	case	_	_
25	of	of	ADP	IN	_	27	case	_	_
26	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	27	nmod:poss	_	_
27	holes	hole	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	22	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **relate** | participle |  | a small long thin furry animal *not said here* |  |  |  | to the weasel | vn relate-86.2-2 «NP V PP.co-theme»: agent=Theme to weasel=Co-Theme |
| 2 | **keep** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | as a pet | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **use** | participle |  | a pet *not said here* |  |  |  | once *property* | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 4 | **chase** | to-infinitive |  | rabbits |  | rabbits's holes |  |  | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent rabbit=Theme out hole=Trajectory |

<!-- .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}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: verb — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To ferret around or about is to search busily for something.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ferret:m2:1
# text = To ferret around or about is to search busily for something.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	ferret	ferret	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	advcl	_	_
3	around	around	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	about	about	ADV	RB	_	3	conj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	search	search	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	busily	busily	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
10	for	for	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ferret** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | around *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | for something; busily, search *property* | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To ferret out is to find something out by careful searching.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ferret:m3:1
# text = To ferret out is to find something out by careful searching.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	ferret	ferret	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
3	out	out	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	find	find	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	obj	_	_
8	out	out	ADP	RP	_	7	compound:prt	_	_
9	by	by	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	careful	careful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	searching	searching	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ferret out** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn ferret-35.6 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | by careful searching; find *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our neighbour has two pet ferrets.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ferret:x1:1
# text = Our neighbour has two pet ferrets.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	neighbour	neighbour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
5	pet	pet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	ferrets	ferret	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Our neighbour | two pet ferrets |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent ferret=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The ferret squeezed into the rabbit hole.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ferret:x2:1
# text = The ferret squeezed into the rabbit hole.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	ferret	ferret	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	squeezed	squeeze	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	into	into	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	rabbit	rabbit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	hole	hole	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **squeeze** | participle |  | the ferret *not said here* |  | the rabbit hole |  |  | vn push-12-1-1 «NP V PP.trajectory»: agent=Agent into hole=Trajectory |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ferrets sleep for many hours a day.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ferret:x3:1
# text = Ferrets sleep for many hours a day.
1	Ferrets	ferret	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	sleep	sleep	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	hours	hour	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sleep** | present | Ferrets |  |  |  | hour |  | vn snooze-40.4-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She ferreted around in her bag for her keys.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ferret:x4:1
# text = She ferreted around in her bag for her keys.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	ferreted	ferret	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	around	around	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	bag	bag	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	keys	key	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ferret around** | past | She |  |  | her bag |  | for her keys; around *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The detective ferreted out the truth.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ferret:x5:1
# text = The detective ferreted out the truth.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	detective	detective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	ferreted	ferret	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	out	out	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	truth	truth	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 | **ferret out** | past | the detective | the truth |  |  |  |  | vn ferret-35.6 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent truth=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A baby ferret is called a kit.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ferret:x6:1
# text = A baby ferret is called a kit.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	ferret	ferret	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	kit	kit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | present · passive |  | a baby ferret |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: subject=Recipient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Let a woman alone, in the meantime, for ferreting or wheedling a secret out of her good man, when she wishes.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ferret:x7:1
# text = Let a woman alone, in the meantime, for ferreting or wheedling a secret out of her good man, when she wishes.
1	Let	let	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	woman	woman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	alone	alone	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	meantime	meantime	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
11	ferreting	ferret	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	advcl	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	wheedling	wheedle	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	11	conj	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	secret	secret	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	_
16	out	out	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
17	of	of	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
18	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	20	nmod:poss	_	_
19	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
20	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	24	punct	_	_
22	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	24	mark	_	_
23	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	24	nsubj	_	_
24	wishes	wish	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **let** | imperative | you *not said here* | a woman |  | the meantime |  | alone *property* | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent woman=Theme |
| 2 | **ferret** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **wheedle** | gerund | you *not said here* | a secret |  |  |  | out woman's good man | vn compel-59.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent secret=Patient |
| 4 | **wish** | present | woman |  |  |  |  |  | vn wish-62 «NP V for NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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