---
title: fierce — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «fierce» in the school dictionary: Angry, wild and likely to attack: «a fierce dog». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fierce/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [F](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/) / fierce

# fierce

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** fierce storm, two teams, tiger, fierce competition, fire, you · **What happens:** attack, bark, blow down, be, give, spread · **To what, where:** fierce dog, tree, fierce rivals, fierce roar, new outfit, long legs

<!-- .vabout -->
«fierce» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [fierce in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/fierce.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Angry, wild and likely to attack: «a fierce dog».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fierce:m1:1
# text = Angry, wild and likely to attack: «a fierce dog».
1	Angry	angry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
3	wild	wild	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	likely	likely	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	attack	attack	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	1	punct	_	_
9	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	fierce	fierce	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **attack** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn attack-60.1-1 «NP V»: 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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Very strong or powerful: «a fierce storm», «fierce heat».

<!-- fold The tree, 9 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fierce:m2:1
# text = Very strong or powerful: «a fierce storm», «fierce heat».
1	Very	very	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	powerful	powerful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
6	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	fierce	fierce	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	storm	storm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
12	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	fierce	fierce	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	heat	heat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Full of strong feeling or effort: «fierce competition».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fierce:m3:1
# text = Full of strong feeling or effort: «fierce competition».
1	Full	full	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	feeling	feeling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	effort	effort	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	fierce	fierce	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	competition	competition	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Bold and confident in a cool way.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fierce:m4:1
# text = Bold and confident in a cool way.
1	Bold	bold	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	confident	confident	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	cool	cool	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The fierce dog barked at the gate.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fierce:x1:1
# text = The fierce dog barked at the gate.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	fierce	fierce	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	barked	bark	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	gate	gate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **bark** | participle |  | the fierce dog *not said here* |  |  |  | at the gate | vn animal\_sounds-38 «NP V PP.stimulus»: agent=Agent at gate=Stimulus |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A fierce storm blew down the tree.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fierce:x2:1
# text = A fierce storm blew down the tree.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	fierce	fierce	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	storm	storm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	blew	blow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	down	down	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **blow down** | past | a fierce storm | the tree |  |  |  |  | vn split-23.2 «NP V NP apart»: agent=Agent tree=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The two teams are fierce rivals.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fierce:x3:1
# text = The two teams are fierce rivals.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	3	nummod	_	_
3	teams	team	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
4	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	fierce	fierce	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	rivals	rival	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the two teams | fierce rivals |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The tiger gave a fierce roar.

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

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There was fierce competition for the prize.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fierce:x5:1
# text = There was fierce competition for the prize.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	was	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	fierce	fierce	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	competition	competition	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	prize	prize	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | past | fierce competition for the prize |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The fire was fierce and spread fast.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fierce:x6:1
# text = The fire was fierce and spread fast.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fire	fire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	fierce	fierce	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	spread	spread	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
7	fast	fast	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the fire |  |  |  |  | fierce *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **spread** | present | the fire *not said here* |  |  |  |  | fast *property* | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
(slang) Love your new outfit — you look fierce!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fierce:x7:1
# text = (slang) Love your new outfit — you look fierce!
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	slang	slang	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
4	Love	love	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
6	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	outfit	outfit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
8	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
9	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	look	look	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	parataxis	_	_
11	fierce	fierce	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **love** | imperative | you *not said here* | your new outfit |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer outfit=Stimulus |
| 2 | **look** | present | you |  |  |  |  | fierce *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They had long legs and fierce eyes and sharp teeth.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fierce:x8:1
# text = They had long legs and fierce eyes and sharp teeth.
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	legs	leg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
6	fierce	fierce	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	eyes	eye	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	sharp	sharp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	teeth	tooth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | They | long legs and fierce eyes and sharp teeth |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent leg=Patient |

<!-- 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 -->
- ← previous: [fiendish](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fiendish/)
- next →: [fiercely](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fiercely/)
- ↑ back to [F in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/)