---
title: grievous — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «grievous» in the school dictionary: Very serious and harmful: a grievous mistake. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# grievous

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Grievous bodily harm, general, death, queen, knight, grievous wound · **What happens:** cause, be, hurt, make, lose, die · **To what, where:** great sadness, serious crime, someone, grievous mistake, battle, grievous loss · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Very serious and harmful: a grievous mistake.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:grievous:m1:1
# text = Very serious and harmful: a grievous mistake.
1	Very	very	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	serious	serious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	harmful	harmful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	grievous	grievous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	mistake	mistake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Causing great sadness or pain: a grievous loss.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:grievous:m2:1
# text = Causing great sadness or pain: a grievous loss.
1	Causing	cause	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	sadness	sadness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	pain	pain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	1	punct	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	grievous	grievous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	loss	loss	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cause** | gerund |  | great sadness or pain |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Causer sadness=Theme loss=Eventuality |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Grievous bodily harm» (GBH) is a serious crime of badly hurting someone.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:grievous:m3:1
# text = «Grievous bodily harm» (GBH) is a serious crime of badly hurting someone.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Grievous	grievous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	bodily	bodily	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	harm	harm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
6	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	GBH	GBH	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	7	punct	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	serious	serious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	crime	crime	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
13	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
14	badly	badly	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	15	advmod	_	_
15	hurting	hurt	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	12	advcl	_	_
16	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Grievous bodily harm | a serious crime |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **hurt** | gerund | Grievous bodily harm *not said here* | someone |  |  |  | badly *property* | vn hurt-40.8.3-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer someone=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The general made a grievous mistake and lost the battle.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:grievous:x1:1
# text = The general made a grievous mistake and lost the battle.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	general	general	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	made	make	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	grievous	grievous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	mistake	mistake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	lost	lose	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	battle	battle	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 | **make** | past | the general | a grievous mistake |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset mistake=Product |
| 2 | **lose** | past | the general *not said here* | the battle |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent battle=Eventuality |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The death of the queen was a grievous loss to the country.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:grievous:x2:1
# text = The death of the queen was a grievous loss to the country.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	death	death	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	queen	queen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	grievous	grievous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	loss	loss	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
10	to	to	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	country	country	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the death of the queen | a grievous loss |  |  |  | to the country | tree rules |
| 2 | **die** |  | the queen |  |  |  |  |  | nom death «event intransitive»: of=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The man was charged with grievous bodily harm.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:grievous:x3:1
# text = The man was charged with grievous bodily harm.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	charged	charge	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	grievous	grievous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
7	bodily	bodily	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	harm	harm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **charge** | past · passive |  | the man |  |  |  | with grievous bodily harm | vn equip-13.4.2 «NP V NP-Fulfilling PP»: subject=Recipient with harm=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«I have sinned grievously,» said the knight in the story.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:grievous:x4:1
# text = «I have sinned grievously,» said the knight in the story.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
3	have	have	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	sinned	sin	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	8	ccomp	_	_
5	grievously	grievously	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
8	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	knight	knight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sin** *in a quote* | present · perfect | the knight *= knight* |  |  |  |  | grievously *property* | vn rebel-71.2-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | the knight |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A grievous wound needs a doctor straight away.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:grievous:x5:1
# text = A grievous wound needs a doctor straight away.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	grievous	grievous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	wound	wound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	needs	need	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	doctor	doctor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	straight	straight	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	away	away	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **need** | present | a grievous wound | a doctor |  |  |  | away *property* | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot doctor=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Forgetting her birthday was not a grievous crime.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:grievous:x6:1
# text = Forgetting her birthday was not a grievous crime.
1	Forgetting	forget	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	csubj	_	_
2	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	birthday	birthday	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
5	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	grievous	grievous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	crime	crime	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **forget** | gerund |  | her birthday |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **is a** | past | Forgetting | a grievous crime |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
But at last the gods afflicted the country with a grievous pestilence, which made terrible havoc among the people.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:grievous:x7:1
# text = But at last the gods afflicted the country with a grievous pestilence, which made terrible havoc among the people.
1	But	but	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
2	at	at	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	last	last	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	nsubj:outer	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	gods	god	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
6	afflicted	afflict	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	country	country	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	with	with	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	grievous	grievous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	pestilence	pestilence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
14	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	15	nsubj	_	_
15	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	acl:relcl	_	_
16	terrible	terrible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	havoc	havoc	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	_
18	among	among	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **afflict** | past | last | the country |  |  |  | with a grievous pestilence | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus country=Experiencer |
| 2 | **make** | past | a grievous pestilence | terrible havoc |  |  |  | among the people | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset havoc=Product |

<!-- 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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