---
title: flit — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «flit» in the school dictionary: To flit is to move or fly quickly and lightly from one place to another, like a butterfly or a bird. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# flit

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** thought, face, your, moonlight flit, He, my · **What happens:** flit, be, fly, mind, do, leave · **To what, where:** one place, mind, flit, debts, Butterflies, flowers

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To flit is to move or fly quickly and lightly from one place to another, like a butterfly or a bird.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flit:m1:1
# text = To flit is to move or fly quickly and lightly from one place to another, like a butterfly or a bird.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	flit	flit	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	move	move	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	fly	fly	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
8	quickly	quickly	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	lightly	lightly	ADV	RB	_	8	conj	_	_
11	from	from	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	13	nummod	_	_
13	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
14	to	to	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	13	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
17	like	like	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	butterfly	butterfly	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
20	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
21	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **flit** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | move *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **fly** | infinitive |  |  |  | one place to another |  | like a butterfly or a bird; quickly *property* | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme from place=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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
If a thought or expression flits across your mind or face, it is there for a very short moment.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flit:m2:1
# text = If a thought or expression flits across your mind or face, it is there for a very short moment.
1	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	thought	thought	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	expression	expression	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
6	flits	flit	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	advcl	_	_
7	across	across	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	mind	mind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	face	face	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
14	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
15	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	14	expl	_	_
16	for	for	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
18	very	very	ADV	RB	_	19	advmod	_	_
19	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
20	moment	moment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	14	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **flit** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | a thought or expression |  |  | your mind or face |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme across mind=Trajectory |
| 2 | **be** | present | face |  |  | there | moment |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **mind** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom mind «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: Scotland, northern England — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To flit, or do a flit, is to move house; a «moonlight flit» is leaving secretly at night, often to avoid paying debts.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flit:m3:1
# text = To flit, or do a flit, is to move house; a «moonlight flit» is leaving secretly at night, often to avoid paying debts.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	flit	flit	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	do	do	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	flit	flit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	move	move	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
12	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	20	punct	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
15	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	moonlight	moonlight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	compound	_	_
17	flit	flit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	17	punct	_	_
19	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	20	aux	_	_
20	leaving	leave	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
21	secretly	secretly	ADV	RB	_	20	advmod	_	_
22	at	at	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
23	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	27	punct	_	_
25	often	often	ADV	RB	_	27	advmod	_	_
26	to	to	PART	TO	_	27	mark	_	_
27	avoid	avoid	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
28	paying	pay	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	27	xcomp	_	_
29	debts	debt	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	28	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **flit** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **do** | infinitive |  | a flit |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent flit=Eventuality |
| 3 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | move *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **leave** | present · progressive | a moonlight flit |  |  |  | night | secretly *property* | vn escape-51.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 5 | **avoid** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | often *property* | vn avoid-52 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 6 | **pay** | gerund |  | debts |  |  |  |  | vn pay-68-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent debt=Asset |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Butterflies flitted between the flowers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flit:x1:1
# text = Butterflies flitted between the flowers.
1	Butterflies	butterfly	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
2	flitted	flit	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	1	acl	_	_
3	between	between	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	flowers	flower	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **flit** | participle |  | Butterflies *not said here* |  | the flowers |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme between flower=Trajectory |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A bat flitted past the window.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flit:x2:1
# text = A bat flitted past the window.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	bat	bat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	flitted	flit	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	past	past	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	window	window	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **flit** | participle |  | a bat *not said here* |  | the window |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme past window=Trajectory |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A smile flitted across her face.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flit:x3:1
# text = A smile flitted across her face.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	smile	smile	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	flitted	flit	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	across	across	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	face	face	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **flit** | participle |  | a smile *not said here* |  | her face |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme across face=Trajectory |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He flits from one hobby to another.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flit:x4:1
# text = He flits from one hobby to another.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	flits	flit	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	from	from	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	hobby	hobby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **flit** | present | He |  |  | one hobby to another |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme from hobby=Trajectory |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A strange thought flitted through my mind.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flit:x5:1
# text = A strange thought flitted through my mind.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	strange	strange	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	thought	thought	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	flitted	flit	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	through	through	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	mind	mind	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 | **flit** | participle |  | a strange thought *not said here* |  | my mind |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme through mind=Trajectory |
| 2 | **mind** |  | my |  |  |  |  |  | nom mind «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The family did a moonlight flit and left no address.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flit:x6:1
# text = The family did a moonlight flit and left no address.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	did	do	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	moonlight	moonlight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	flit	flit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	left	leave	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
9	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	10	det	_	_
10	address	address	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | past | the family | a moonlight flit |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent flit=Eventuality |
| 2 | **leave** | past | the family *not said here* | no address |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent address=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Gay colors were to be seen here, and a butterfly, too, was flitting by.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:flit:x7:1
# text = Gay colors were to be seen here, and a butterfly, too, was flitting by.
1	Gay	gay	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	colors	color	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
5	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	seen	see	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
7	here	here	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	butterfly	butterfly	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
13	too	too	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
15	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	16	aux	_	_
16	flitting	flit	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	advcl	_	_
17	by	by	ADP	IN	_	16	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **see** | past · passive |  | Gay colors |  | here |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Stimulus |
| 2 | **flit** | past · progressive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- 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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