---
title: fortress — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «fortress» in the school dictionary: A fortress is a large, strong building or town with thick walls, built to protect people from attack. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# fortress

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** fortress, any place, soldiers, Edinburgh Castle, We, dragon · **What happens:** be, build, protect, get, hide, stand · **To what, where:** large strong building, thick walls, people, any place, stone fortress, hill

<!-- .vabout -->
«fortress» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [fortress in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/fortress.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A fortress is a large, strong building or town with thick walls, built to protect people from attack.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fortress:m1:1
# text = A fortress is a large, strong building or town with thick walls, built to protect people from attack.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fortress	fortress	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
5	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	building	building	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	town	town	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	_
11	with	with	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	thick	thick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	walls	wall	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
15	built	build	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	13	acl	_	_
16	to	to	PART	TO	_	17	mark	_	_
17	protect	protect	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	advcl	_	_
18	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	obj	_	_
19	from	from	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
20	attack	attack	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a fortress | a large strong building or town with thick walls |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **build** | participle |  | thick walls *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1 «NP.attribute V»: agent=Attribute |
| 3 | **protect** | to-infinitive |  |  | people |  |  | from attack | vn defend-72.3 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent people=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 -->
A fortress is any place that is very safe and hard to get into.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fortress:m2:1
# text = A fortress is any place that is very safe and hard to get into.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fortress	fortress	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	any	any	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	very	very	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	safe	safe	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	acl:relcl	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	conj	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	xcomp	_	_
14	into	into	ADP	IN	_	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a fortress | any place |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | any place |  |  |  |  | safe *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **be** |  | any place *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **get** | to-infinitive | any place *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The soldiers hid inside the stone fortress.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fortress:x1:1
# text = The soldiers hid inside the stone fortress.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	soldiers	soldier	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	hid	hide	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	inside	inside	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	stone	stone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	fortress	fortress	NOUN	NN	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 | **hide** | past | the soldiers |  |  | the stone fortress |  |  | vn concealment-16-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent inside fortress=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The fortress stood on a hill above the river.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fortress:x2:1
# text = The fortress stood on a hill above the river.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fortress	fortress	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	stood	stand	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	hill	hill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	above	above	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	river	river	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stand** | past | the fortress |  |  | a hill |  | above the river | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent on hill=Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Edinburgh Castle was once a mighty fortress.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fortress:x3:1
# text = Edinburgh Castle was once a mighty fortress.
1	Edinburgh	Edinburgh	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	Castle	Castle	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	once	once	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	7	advmod	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	mighty	mighty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	fortress	fortress	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | Edinburgh Castle | a mighty fortress |  |  |  | once *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We built a pillow fortress in the living room.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fortress:x4:1
# text = We built a pillow fortress in the living room.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	built	build	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	pillow	pillow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	fortress	fortress	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	living	living	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	room	room	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **build** | past | We | a pillow fortress |  | the living room |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fortress=Product |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The dragon guarded the gate of the dark fortress.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fortress:x5:1
# text = The dragon guarded the gate of the dark fortress.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dragon	dragon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	guarded	guard	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	gate	gate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	dark	dark	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	fortress	fortress	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **guard** | past | the dragon | the gate of the dark fortress |  |  |  |  | vn defend-72.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent gate=Beneficiary |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Their defence was like a fortress — no goals all season.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fortress:x6:1
# text = Their defence was like a fortress — no goals all season.
1	Their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	defence	defence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	like	like	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	fortress	fortress	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
8	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	9	det	_	_
9	goals	goal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	appos	_	_
10	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	11	det	_	_
11	season	season	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | Their defence |  |  |  |  | like a fortress | tree rules |
| 2 | **defend** |  | Their *= they* |  |  |  |  |  | nom defence «process transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The fortress walls were three metres thick.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fortress:x7:1
# text = The fortress walls were three metres thick.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	fortress	fortress	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	walls	wall	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
4	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	metres	metre	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl:unmarked	_	_
7	thick	thick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the fortress walls |  |  |  |  | three metres *obl:unmarked*; thick *property* | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Shiyu by using his magic art quickly passed over with his army and shut himself up in a fortress on the opposite bank.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fortress:x8:1
# text = Shiyu by using his magic art quickly passed over with his army and shut himself up in a fortress on the opposite bank.
1	Shiyu	Shiyu	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
2	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	3	mark	_	_
3	using	use	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	1	acl	_	_
4	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
5	magic	magic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	art	art	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	quickly	quickly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
8	passed	pass	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	over	over	ADP	RP	_	8	compound:prt	_	_
10	with	with	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	army	army	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	shut	shut	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	conj	_	_
15	himself	himself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	14	obj	_	_
16	up	up	ADP	RP	_	14	compound:prt	_	_
17	in	in	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	fortress	fortress	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	_
20	on	on	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
21	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
22	opposite	opposite	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	23	amod	_	_
23	bank	bank	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | gerund | Shiyu *not said here* | Shiyu's magic art |  |  |  | quickly *property* | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent art=Patient |
| 2 | **pass over** | past | Shiyu |  |  |  |  | with Shiyu's army | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **shut up** | infinitive | Shiyu *not said here* | Shiyu |  | a fortress on the opposite bank |  |  | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent himself=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 -->

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