---
title: fortification — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «fortification» in the school dictionary: A wall, tower, ditch or other structure built to defend a place from attack. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# fortification

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** act, fortifications, Romans, We, fortification, Iron fortification · **What happens:** build, defend, make, add, include, visit · **To what, where:** other structure, place, vitamins, moat, fortifications, old harbour fortifications

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A wall, tower, ditch or other structure built to defend a place from attack.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fortification:m1:1
# text = A wall, tower, ditch or other structure built to defend a place from attack.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	wall	wall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	tower	tower	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	ditch	ditch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	structure	structure	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
10	built	build	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	acl	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	defend	defend	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	advcl	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	_
15	from	from	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	attack	attack	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **build** | participle |  | other structure *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1 «NP.attribute V»: agent=Attribute |
| 2 | **defend** | to-infinitive |  | a place |  |  |  | from attack | vn defend-72.3 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent place=Beneficiary from attack=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.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The act of making a place stronger against attack.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fortification:m2:1
# text = The act of making a place stronger against attack.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	act	act	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
4	making	make	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	acl	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	stronger	strong	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	0	root	_	_
8	against	against	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	attack	attack	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | gerund | the act *not said here* | a place |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset place=Product |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Adding vitamins or minerals to food, such as vitamins added to cereal.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fortification:m3:1
# text = Adding vitamins or minerals to food, such as vitamins added to cereal.
1	Adding	add	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	vitamins	vitamin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	minerals	mineral	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	10	case	_	_
9	as	as	ADP	IN	_	8	fixed	_	_
10	vitamins	vitamin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	_	_
11	added	add	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	acl	_	_
12	to	to	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	cereal	cereal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **add** *speech: assert* | gerund |  | vitamins or minerals |  |  |  | to food and vitamins | vn mix-22.1-2 «NP V NP PP.co-patient»: agent=Agent vitamin=Patient to food=Co-Patient |
| 2 | **add** *speech: assert* | participle |  | vitamins *not said here* |  |  |  | to cereal | vn mix-22.1-2 «NP V ADVP-Middle PP»: agent=Patient to cereal=Co-Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The castle's fortifications included a moat and high walls.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fortification:x1:1
# text = The castle's fortifications included a moat and high walls.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	castle	castle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	fortifications	fortification	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
5	included	include	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	moat	moat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	high	high	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	walls	wall	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **include** | past | the castle's fortifications | a moat and high walls |  |  |  |  | vn involve-107.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent moat=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Romans built fortifications along the border.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fortification:x2:1
# text = Romans built fortifications along the border.
1	Romans	Roman	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	built	build	VERB	VBD	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	fortifications	fortification	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	along	along	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	border	border	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **build** | past | Romans | fortifications |  |  |  | along the border | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fortification=Product |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We visited the old harbour fortifications.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fortification:x3:1
# text = We visited the old harbour fortifications.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	visited	visit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
4	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
5	harbour	harbour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	fortifications	fortification	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **visit** | past | We | the old harbour fortifications |  |  |  |  | vn meet-36.3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fortification=Co-Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The fortification of the town took ten years.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fortification:x4:1
# text = The fortification of the town took ten years.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fortification	fortification	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	town	town	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	ten	ten	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | past | the fortification of the town |  |  |  | year |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Iron fortification of cereal helps children's health.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fortification:x5:1
# text = Iron fortification of cereal helps children's health.
1	Iron	iron	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	fortification	fortification	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	cereal	cereal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
5	helps	help	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	's	's	PART	POS	_	6	case	_	_
8	health	health	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | present | Iron fortification of cereal | children's health |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent health=Beneficiary |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Soldiers dug trenches as fortifications.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fortification:x6:1
# text = Soldiers dug trenches as fortifications.
1	Soldiers	soldier	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	dug	dig	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	trenches	trench	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	as	as	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	fortifications	fortification	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dig** | past | Soldiers | trenches |  |  |  | as fortifications | vn create-26.4-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Agent trench=Result as fortification=Attribute |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The citizens of a certain city were debating about the best material to use in the fortifications which were about to be erected for the greater security of the town.

<!-- fold The tree, 30 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fortification:x7:1
# text = The citizens of a certain city were debating about the best material to use in the fortifications which were about to be erected for the greater security of the town.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	citizens	citizen	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	certain	certain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	city	city	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
7	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	debating	debate	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
9	about	about	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	best	good	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	12	amod	_	_
12	material	material	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
13	to	to	PART	TO	_	14	mark	_	_
14	use	use	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	advcl	_	_
15	in	in	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	fortifications	fortification	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	obl	_	_
18	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	20	nsubj	_	_
19	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	20	cop	_	_
20	about	about	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	acl:relcl	_	_
21	to	to	PART	TO	_	23	mark	_	_
22	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	23	aux:pass	_	_
23	erected	erect	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	20	xcomp	_	_
24	for	for	ADP	IN	_	27	case	_	_
25	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	27	det	_	_
26	greater	great	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	27	amod	_	_
27	security	security	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	obl	_	_
28	of	of	ADP	IN	_	30	case	_	_
29	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	30	det	_	_
30	town	town	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	27	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **debate** | past · progressive | the citizens of a certain city |  |  |  |  | about the best material | vn battle-36.4-1 «NP V PP.theme NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent about material=Theme |
| 2 | **use** | to-infinitive | the citizens of a certain city *not said here* |  |  | the fortifications |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is** | past | the fortifications |  |  |  |  | about *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **erect** | to-infinitive · passive | the fortifications *not said here* |  |  |  |  | for the greater security of the town | vn build-26.1 «NP V NP PP.beneficiary»: for security=Beneficiary |

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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.

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