---
title: haunting — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «haunting» in the school dictionary: Of a ghost: visiting a place again and again (in stories). Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# haunting

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** memory, your, you, song, haunting cry, owl · **What happens:** visit, stay, trouble, mind, not forget, say · **To what, where:** place, mind, you, way, ghost, old castle · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Of a ghost: visiting a place again and again (in stories).

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:haunting:m1:1
# text = Of a ghost: visiting a place again and again (in stories).
1	Of	of	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	ghost	ghost	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	5	punct	_	_
5	visiting	visit	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	again	again	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	again	again	ADV	RB	_	8	conj	_	_
11	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	stories	story	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **visit** | gerund |  | a place |  |  | again | of a ghost | tree rules |

<!-- .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 -->
Of a memory or worry: staying in your mind and troubling you.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:haunting:m2:1
# text = Of a memory or worry: staying in your mind and troubling you.
1	Of	of	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	memory	memory	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	worry	worry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
7	staying	stay	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	acl	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	mind	mind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	troubling	trouble	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	conj	_	_
13	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stay** | gerund | a memory or worry *not said here* |  |  | your mind |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in mind=Location |
| 2 | **trouble** | gerund | a memory or worry *not said here* | you |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus you=Experiencer |
| 3 | **mind** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom mind «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Beautiful, sad or strange in a way you cannot forget: a haunting tune.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:haunting:m3:1
# text = Beautiful, sad or strange in a way you cannot forget: a haunting tune.
1	Beautiful	beautiful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
3	sad	sad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	strange	strange	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
9	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
10	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	12	advmod	_	_
12	forget	forget	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	16	punct	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	haunting	haunting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	compound	_	_
16	tune	tune	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	16	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **forget** | can | you | a way *not said here* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A ghost is said to be haunting the old castle.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:haunting:x1:1
# text = A ghost is said to be haunting the old castle.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	ghost	ghost	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	said	say	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
6	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	aux	_	_
7	haunting	haunt	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	castle	castle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present · passive |  | a ghost |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: subject=Topic |
| 2 | **haunt** | to-infinitive · progressive |  | the old castle |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus castle=Experiencer |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The song has a haunting melody.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:haunting:x2:1
# text = The song has a haunting melody.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	song	song	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	haunting	haunt	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	amod	_	_
6	melody	melody	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the song | a haunting melody |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent melody=Patient |
| 2 | **haunt** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The haunting cry of the owl echoed through the woods.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:haunting:x3:1
# text = The haunting cry of the owl echoed through the woods.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	haunting	haunting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	cry	cry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	owl	owl	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	echoed	echo	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	through	through	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	woods	wood	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **echo** | past | the haunting cry of the owl |  |  | the woods |  |  | vn sound\_existence-47.4 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme through wood=Location |
| 2 | **cry** |  | the owl |  |  |  |  |  | nom cry «communication intransitive»: of=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
That mistake kept haunting him for weeks.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:haunting:x4:1
# text = That mistake kept haunting him for weeks.
1	That	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	2	det	_	_
2	mistake	mistake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	kept	keep	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	haunting	haunt	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	xcomp	_	_
5	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	weeks	week	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | past | that mistake |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **haunt** | gerund | that mistake *not said here* | mistake |  |  | week |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus he=Experiencer |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The film's last scene is haunting.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:haunting:x5:1
# text = The film's last scene is haunting.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	last	last	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	scene	scene	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	haunting	haunt	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **haunt** | present · progressive | the film's last scene |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
People say a grey lady is haunting the library.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:haunting:x6:1
# text = People say a grey lady is haunting the library.
1	People	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	say	say	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	grey	grey	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	lady	lady	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	haunting	haunt	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	ccomp	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	library	library	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | People |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **haunt** | present · progressive | a grey lady | the library |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus library=Experiencer |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
But after a time a Baba Yaga took to haunting their hut and sucking the breasts of the merchant's daughter.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:haunting:x7:1
# text = But after a time a Baba Yaga took to haunting their hut and sucking the breasts of the merchant's daughter.
1	But	but	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
2	after	after	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	Baba	Baba	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	Yaga	Yaga	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	haunting	haunt	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	8	advcl	_	_
11	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	hut	hut	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	sucking	suck	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	10	conj	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	breasts	breast	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	obj	_	_
17	of	of	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	merchant	merchant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	's	's	PART	POS	_	19	case	_	_
21	daughter	daughter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | past | a Baba Yaga |  |  |  | time |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **haunt** | gerund | a Baba Yaga *not said here* | their hut |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus hut=Experiencer |
| 3 | **suck** | gerund | a Baba Yaga *not said here* | the breasts of the merchant's daughter |  |  |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.source»: agent=Agent breast=Source |

<!-- 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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