---
title: fiendish — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «fiendish» in the school dictionary: Fiendish means very cruel or wicked, like a fiend (a devil or evil spirit). Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# fiendish

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Fiendish, villain, sudoku, maths challenge, witch, maze · **What happens:** mean, have, steal, be, give, uncover · **To what, where:** fiendish plan, crown jewels, fiendish final question, fiendish laugh, fiendish trick, adept

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fiendish means very cruel or wicked, like a fiend (a devil or evil spirit).

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fiendish:m1:1
# text = Fiendish means very cruel or wicked, like a fiend (a devil or evil spirit).
1	Fiendish	fiendish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	very	very	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	cruel	cruel	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	wicked	wicked	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	like	like	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	fiend	fiend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	parataxis	_	_
11	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	devil	devil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	appos	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
15	evil	evil	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	spirit	spirit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Fiendish |  |  |  |  | cruel *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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 -->
Fiendish means extremely clever, complicated or difficult: «a fiendish puzzle».

<!-- fold The tree, 10 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fiendish:m2:1
# text = Fiendish means extremely clever, complicated or difficult: «a fiendish puzzle».
1	Fiendish	fiendish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	extremely	extremely	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	clever	clever	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	complicated	complicated	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	difficult	difficult	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
10	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	fiendish	fiendish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	puzzle	puzzle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Fiendish |  |  |  |  | clever *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The villain had a fiendish plan to steal the crown jewels.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fiendish:x1:1
# text = The villain had a fiendish plan to steal the crown jewels.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	villain	villain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
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	6	det	_	_
5	fiendish	fiendish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	plan	plan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	steal	steal	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	acl	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	crown	crown	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	jewels	jewel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the villain | a fiendish plan |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent plan=Patient |
| 2 | **steal** | to-infinitive | the villain *not said here* | the crown jewels |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location jewel=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
This sudoku is fiendish!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fiendish:x2:1
# text = This sudoku is fiendish!
1	This	this	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	2	nsubj	_	_
2	sudoku	sudoku	PROPN	FW	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	fiendish	fiendish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | sudoku |  |  |  |  | fiendish *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The maths challenge had a fiendish final question.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fiendish:x3:1
# text = The maths challenge had a fiendish final question.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	maths	math	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	compound	_	_
3	challenge	challenge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
6	fiendish	fiendish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
7	final	final	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	question	question	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the maths challenge | a fiendish final question |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent question=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The witch gave a fiendish laugh.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fiendish:x4:1
# text = The witch gave a fiendish laugh.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	witch	witch	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	fiendish	fiendish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	laugh	laugh	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 witch | a fiendish laugh |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent laugh=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The maze was fiendishly difficult.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fiendish:x5:1
# text = The maze was fiendishly difficult.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	maze	maze	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	fiendishly	fiendishly	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	difficult	difficult	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the maze |  |  |  |  | difficult, fiendishly *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The detective uncovered a fiendish trick.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fiendish:x6:1
# text = The detective uncovered a fiendish trick.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	detective	detective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	uncovered	uncover	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	fiendish	fiendish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	trick	trick	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 | **uncover** | past | the detective | a fiendish trick |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
After a time he became an adept in the black art, and contracted an intimate acquaintance with the fiendish races.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fiendish:x7:1
# text = After a time he became an adept in the black art, and contracted an intimate acquaintance with the fiendish races.
1	After	after	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
4	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	became	become	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	adept	adept	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	xcomp	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	black	black	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	art	art	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	contracted	contract	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
15	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	intimate	intimate	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	acquaintance	acquaintance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	_
18	with	with	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
19	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
20	fiendish	fiendish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	21	amod	_	_
21	races	race	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **become** | past | he | a adept in the black art |  |  | time |  | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **contract** | past | he *not said here* | a intimate acquaintance |  |  |  | with the fiendish races | vn bend-45.2 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent acquaintance=Patient with race=Instrument |

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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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