---
title: handcuff — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «handcuff» in the school dictionary: Two metal rings joined by a chain that police lock round a prisoner's wrists. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# handcuff

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** police, they, police officer, magician, police set, new rules · **What happens:** join, lock, put, limit, not act, handcuff · **To what, where:** Two metal rings, chain, handcuffs, someone, thief, robber

<!-- .vabout -->
«handcuff» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [handcuff in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/handcuff.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: noun, usually plural — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Two metal rings joined by a chain that police lock round a prisoner's wrists.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:handcuff:m1:1
# text = Two metal rings joined by a chain that police lock round a prisoner's wrists.
1	Two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	3	nummod	_	_
2	metal	metal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	rings	ring	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
4	joined	join	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	chain	chain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	10	obj	_	_
9	police	police	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	_
10	lock	lock	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
11	round	round	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	prisoner	prisoner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	's	's	PART	POS	_	13	case	_	_
15	wrists	wrist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **join** | participle |  | Two metal rings *not said here* |  |  |  | by a chain | vn mix-22.1-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **lock** | present | police | a chain |  |  |  | round a prisoner's wrists | vn tape-22.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent that=Patient |

<!-- .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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To put handcuffs on someone.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:handcuff:m2:1
# text = To put handcuffs on someone.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	put	put	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	handcuffs	handcuff	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **put** | to-infinitive |  | handcuffs |  | someone |  |  | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V PP.destination NP»: agent=Agent handcuff=Theme on someone=Destination |

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The police handcuffed the thief.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:handcuff:m2e:1
# text = The police handcuffed the thief.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	police	police	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	handcuffed	handcuff	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	thief	thief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **handcuff** | past | the police | the thief |  |  |  |  | vn tape-22.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thief=Patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To limit someone so they cannot act freely.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:handcuff:m3:1
# text = To limit someone so they cannot act freely.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	limit	limit	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	so	so	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
5	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
6	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
8	act	act	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
9	freely	freely	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **limit** | to-infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  |  | vn limit-76 «NP V NP»: agent=Causer someone=Patient |
| 2 | **not** **act** | can | they |  |  |  |  | freely *property* | vn act-114-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The police officer handcuffed the robber.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:handcuff:x1:1
# text = The police officer handcuffed the robber.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	police	police	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	officer	officer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	handcuffed	handcuff	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	robber	robber	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **handcuff** | past | the police officer | the robber |  |  |  |  | vn tape-22.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent robber=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The thief was led away in handcuffs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:handcuff:x2:1
# text = The thief was led away in handcuffs.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	thief	thief	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	led	lead	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	away	away	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	handcuffs	handcuff	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lead away** | past · passive |  | the thief |  | handcuffs |  | away *property* | vn accompany-51.7 «NP V NP PP.destination»: subject=Theme in handcuff=Destination |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The magician escaped from the handcuffs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:handcuff:x3:1
# text = The magician escaped from the handcuffs.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	magician	magician	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	escaped	escape	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	from	from	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	handcuffs	handcuff	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **escape** | past | the magician |  |  | the handcuffs |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme from handcuff=Initial\_Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The toy police set came with plastic handcuffs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:handcuff:x4:1
# text = The toy police set came with plastic handcuffs.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	toy	toy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	police	police	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	set	set	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	plastic	plastic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	handcuffs	handcuff	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | past | the police set |  |  |  |  | with plastic handcuffs | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The new rules handcuffed the team.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:handcuff:x5:1
# text = The new rules handcuffed the team.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	handcuffed	handcuff	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **handcuff** | past | the new rules | the team |  |  |  |  | vn tape-22.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent team=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A pair of handcuffs has two cuffs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:handcuff:x6:1
# text = A pair of handcuffs has two cuffs.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	pair	pair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	handcuffs	handcuff	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
5	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
7	cuffs	cuff	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | a pair of handcuffs | two cuffs |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cuff=Patient |

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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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