---
title: griffin — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «griffin» in the school dictionary: An imaginary creature with the head, wings and claws of an eagle and the body of a lion. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# griffin

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Griffin, dragon, stone griffin, Griffins, Gryphon · **What happens:** be, spread, roar, guard, treasure, appear · **To what, where:** surname, eagle wings, treasure, many coats, way, griffin

<!-- .vabout -->
«griffin» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [griffin in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/griffin.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An imaginary creature with the head, wings and claws of an eagle and the body of a lion.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:griffin:m1:1
# text = An imaginary creature with the head, wings and claws of an eagle and the body of a lion.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	imaginary	imaginary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	creature	creature	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	wings	wing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	claws	claw	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	conj	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	eagle	eagle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	_
17	of	of	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	lion	lion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Griffin is also a surname (a name).

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:griffin:m2:1
# text = Griffin is also a surname (a name).
1	Griffin	griffin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	also	also	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	surname	surname	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The griffin spread its eagle wings and roared like a lion.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:griffin:x1:1
# text = The griffin spread its eagle wings and roared like a lion.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	griffin	griffin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	spread	spread	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
5	eagle	eagle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	wings	wing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	roared	roar	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	conj	_	_
9	like	like	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	lion	lion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spread** | past | the griffin | griffin's eagle wings |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location wing=Theme |
| 2 | **roar** | participle | the griffin *not said here* |  |  |  |  | like a lion | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A griffin guarded the dragon's treasure.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:griffin:x2:1
# text = A griffin guarded the dragon's treasure.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	griffin	griffin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	guarded	guard	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	dragon	dragon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	's	's	PART	POS	_	5	case	_	_
7	treasure	treasure	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **guard** | participle | a griffin | the dragon's treasure |  |  |  |  | vn defend-72.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent treasure=Beneficiary |
| 2 | **treasure** |  | the dragon |  |  |  |  |  | nom treasure «possession transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There is a stone griffin on the old bank.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:griffin:x3:1
# text = There is a stone griffin on the old bank.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	stone	stone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	griffin	griffin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	bank	bank	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | present | a stone griffin on the old bank |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the story the hero rode on a griffin.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:griffin:x4:1
# text = In the story the hero rode on a griffin.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	hero	hero	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	rode	road	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	griffin	griffin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Griffins appear on many coats of arms.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:griffin:x5:1
# text = Griffins appear on many coats of arms.
1	Griffins	griffin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	appear	appear	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	coats	coat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	arms	arm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **appear** | present | Griffins |  |  | many coats of arms |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on coat=Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Gryphon is another way to spell griffin.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:griffin:x6:1
# text = Gryphon is another way to spell griffin.
1	Gryphon	Gryphon	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	4	det	_	_
4	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	spell	spell	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	acl	_	_
7	griffin	griffin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Gryphon | another way |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **spell** | to-infinitive |  | griffin |  |  |  |  | vn pronounce-29.3.1 «NP V NP ADVP»: agent=Agent griffin=Theme |

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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.

<!-- /div -->

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