---
title: feudalism — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «feudalism» in the school dictionary: Feudalism was the system in medieval Europe in which the king gave land to lords in return for loyalty and soldiers, and peasants (serfs) worked the lords' land in return for protection and a place to live. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and 
---

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# feudalism

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Feudalism, king, peasants, feudal pyramid, Knights, Japan · **What happens:** be, give, work, live, come, have · **To what, where:** system, medieval Europe, land, lords, return, England

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Feudalism was the system in medieval Europe in which the king gave land to lords in return for loyalty and soldiers, and peasants (serfs) worked the lords' land in return for protection and a place to live.

<!-- fold The tree, 38 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:feudalism:m1:1
# text = Feudalism was the system in medieval Europe in which the king gave land to lords in return for loyalty and soldiers, and peasants (serfs) worked the lords' land in return for protection and a place to live.
1	Feudalism	feudalism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	system	system	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	medieval	medieval	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	Europe	Europe	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	12	obl	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	king	king	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
12	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
13	land	land	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	_
14	to	to	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	lords	lord	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obl	_	_
16	in	in	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	return	return	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	_
18	for	for	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	loyalty	loyalty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	nmod	_	_
20	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
21	soldiers	soldier	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	28	punct	_	_
23	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	28	cc	_	_
24	peasants	peasant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	28	nsubj	_	_
25	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	26	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	serfs	serf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	24	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	26	punct	_	_
28	worked	work	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
29	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	30	det	_	_
30	lords	lord	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	32	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	'	's	PART	POS	_	30	case	_	_
32	land	land	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	28	obj	_	_
33	in	in	ADP	IN	_	34	case	_	_
34	return	return	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	28	obl	_	_
35	for	for	ADP	IN	_	36	case	_	_
36	protection	protection	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	34	nmod	_	_
37	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	39	cc	_	_
38	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	39	det	_	_
39	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	34	conj	_	_
40	to	to	PART	TO	_	41	mark	_	_
41	live	live	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	39	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
42	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | Feudalism | the system |  | medieval Europe |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **give** | past | the king | land | lords | the system |  | in return for loyalty and soldiers | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent land=Theme to lord=Recipient |
| 3 | **work** | past | peasants | the lords's land |  | return for protection and a place |  |  | vn knead-26.5 «NP V NP.material»: agent=Agent land=Material |
| 4 | **live** | to-infinitive | peasants *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1-1 «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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Feudalism came to England with the Normans in 1066.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:feudalism:x1:1
# text = Feudalism came to England with the Normans in 1066.
1	Feudalism	feudalism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	England	England	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	Normans	Norman	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	1066	1066	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | past | Feudalism |  | England | 1066 |  | with the Normans | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme to england=Initial\_Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Under feudalism, peasants worked the lord's land.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:feudalism:x2:1
# text = Under feudalism, peasants worked the lord's land.
1	Under	under	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	feudalism	feudalism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	peasants	peasant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
5	worked	work	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	lord	lord	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	's	PART	POS	_	7	case	_	_
9	land	land	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **work** | past | peasants | the lord's land |  | feudalism |  |  | vn knead-26.5 «NP V NP.material»: agent=Agent land=Material |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The feudal pyramid had the king at the top.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:feudalism:x3:1
# text = The feudal pyramid had the king at the top.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	feudal	feudal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	pyramid	pyramid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	king	king	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	top	top	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the feudal pyramid | the king |  | the top |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent king=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Knights promised to fight for their lord under feudalism.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:feudalism:x4:1
# text = Knights promised to fight for their lord under feudalism.
1	Knights	knight	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	promised	promise	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	fight	fight	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	lord	lord	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	under	under	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	feudalism	feudalism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **promise** *speech: promise* | past | Knights |  |  |  |  |  | vn promise-37.13 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **fight** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | Knights *not said here* |  |  | feudalism |  | for Knights's lord | vn battle-36.4-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Feudalism slowly ended after the Black Death.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:feudalism:x5:1
# text = Feudalism slowly ended after the Black Death.
1	Feudalism	feudalism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	slowly	slowly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	ended	end	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	Black	Black	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	flat	_	_
7	Death	Death	PROPN	NNP	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 | **end** | past | Feudalism |  |  |  | after the Black Death | slowly *property* | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Japan also had a kind of feudalism with samurai.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:feudalism:x6:1
# text = Japan also had a kind of feudalism with samurai.
1	Japan	Japan	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	also	also	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	kind	kind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	feudalism	feudalism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	samurai	samurai	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | Japan | a kind of feudalism with samurai |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent kind=Patient |

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**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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