---
title: feudal — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «feudal» in the school dictionary: Belonging to the feudal system: the way society was organised in medieval Europe, where kings gave land to lords in return for loyalty and soldiers, and peasants worked the land for the lords. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# feudal

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** kings, peasants, few powerful people, king, feudal lord, Knights · **What happens:** belong, organise, give, work, control, own · **To what, where:** way society, medieval Europe, land, lords, return, many others

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Belonging to the feudal system: the way society was organised in medieval Europe, where kings gave land to lords in return for loyalty and soldiers, and peasants worked the land for the lords.

<!-- fold The tree, 33 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:feudal:m1:1
# text = Belonging to the feudal system: the way society was organised in medieval Europe, where kings gave land to lords in return for loyalty and soldiers, and peasants worked the land for the lords.
1	Belonging	belong	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	to	to	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	feudal	feudal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	system	system	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	society	society	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj:pass	_	_
10	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	aux:pass	_	_
11	organised	organise	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	1	advcl	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	medieval	medieval	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	Europe	Europe	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
16	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	18	advmod	_	_
17	kings	king	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	nsubj	_	_
18	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	conj	_	_
19	land	land	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obj	_	_
20	to	to	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
21	lords	lord	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	obl	_	_
22	in	in	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
23	return	return	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obl	_	_
24	for	for	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
25	loyalty	loyalty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	nmod	_	_
26	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	27	cc	_	_
27	soldiers	soldier	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	25	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	31	punct	_	_
29	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	31	cc	_	_
30	peasants	peasant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	31	nsubj	_	_
31	worked	work	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	18	conj	_	_
32	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	33	det	_	_
33	land	land	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	31	obj	_	_
34	for	for	ADP	IN	_	36	case	_	_
35	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	36	det	_	_
36	lords	lord	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	31	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
37	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **belong** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | to the feudal system | vn attend-107.4-2 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **organise** | past · passive |  | the way society |  | medieval Europe |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **give** | past | kings | land | lords | return for loyalty and soldiers |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent land=Theme to lord=Recipient |
| 4 | **work** | past | peasants | the land |  |  |  | for the lords | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP PP.predicate»: agent=Agent land=Theme for lord=Eventuality |

<!-- .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: informal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Old-fashioned and unfair, where a few powerful people control many others.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:feudal:m2:1
# text = Old-fashioned and unfair, where a few powerful people control many others.
1	Old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	1	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	fashioned	fashioned	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	unfair	unfair	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
7	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	12	advmod	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
9	few	few	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
10	powerful	powerful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	nsubj	_	_
12	control	control	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
13	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **control** | present | a few powerful people | many others |  |  |  |  | vn enforce-63 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent other=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the feudal system, the king owned all the land.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:feudal:x1:1
# text = In the feudal system, the king owned all the land.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	feudal	feudal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	system	system	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	king	king	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	owned	own	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	11	det:predet	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	land	land	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **own** | past | the king | all land |  | the feudal system |  |  | vn own-100.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot land=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The feudal lord let peasants farm his land.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:feudal:x2:1
# text = The feudal lord let peasants farm his land.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	feudal	feudal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	lord	lord	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	let	let	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	peasants	peasant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
6	farm	farm	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	land	land	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **let** | past | the feudal lord | peasants |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **farm** | infinitive | peasants *not said here* | lord's land |  |  |  |  | vn rear-26.2.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent land=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Knights served their lords in feudal times.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:feudal:x3:1
# text = Knights served their lords in feudal times.
1	Knights	knight	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	served	serve	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	lords	lord	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	feudal	feudal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	times	time	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **serve** | past | Knights | Knights's lords |  |  | time |  | vn masquerade-29.6-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent lord=Attribute |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We drew a feudal pyramid in history.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:feudal:x4:1
# text = We drew a feudal pyramid in history.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	drew	draw	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	feudal	feudal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	pyramid	pyramid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	history	history	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **draw** | past | We | a feudal pyramid |  | history |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent pyramid=Theme in history=Destination |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Serfs in feudal England could not leave the manor.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:feudal:x5:1
# text = Serfs in feudal England could not leave the manor.
1	Serfs	serf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
2	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	feudal	feudal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	England	England	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
5	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
6	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
7	leave	leave	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	manor	manor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **leave** | could | Serfs in feudal England | the manor |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent manor=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The boss runs the company like a feudal lord.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:feudal:x6:1
# text = The boss runs the company like a feudal lord.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	boss	boss	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	runs	run	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	company	company	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	like	like	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	feudal	feudal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	lord	lord	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **run** | present | the boss | the company |  |  |  | like a feudal lord | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme company=Trajectory |

<!-- 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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