---
title: helot — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «helot» in the school dictionary: A helot was one of the people in ancient Sparta who were made to work the land for the Spartans, almost like slaves, and could not leave. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/helot/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [H](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/) / helot

# helot

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** helot, people, helots, many more helots, Spartans · **What happens:** be, make, work, not leave, treat, farm · **To what, where:** one, people, land, anyone, farms, Sparta · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A helot was one of the people in ancient Sparta who were made to work the land for the Spartans, almost like slaves, and could not leave.

<!-- fold The tree, 27 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:helot:m1:1
# text = A helot was one of the people in ancient Sparta who were made to work the land for the Spartans, almost like slaves, and could not leave.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	helot	helot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	ancient	ancient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	Sparta	Sparta	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
11	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	13	nsubj	_	_
12	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	13	aux:pass	_	_
13	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	acl:relcl	_	_
14	to	to	PART	TO	_	15	mark	_	_
15	work	work	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	xcomp	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	land	land	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	_
18	for	for	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	Spartans	Spartan	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	24	punct	_	_
22	almost	almost	ADV	RB	_	24	advmod	_	_
23	like	like	ADP	IN	_	24	case	_	_
24	slaves	slave	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	29	punct	_	_
26	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	29	cc	_	_
27	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	29	aux	_	_
28	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	29	advmod	_	_
29	leave	leave	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | a helot | one |  |  |  | of the people in ancient Sparta | tree rules |
| 2 | **make** | past · passive |  | the people in ancient Sparta |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **work** | to-infinitive | the people in ancient Sparta *not said here* | the land |  |  |  | for the Spartans; like slaves | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP PP.predicate»: agent=Agent land=Theme for spartan=Eventuality |
| 4 | **not** **leave** | could |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A helot is anyone treated like a slave or a serf.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:helot:m2:1
# text = A helot is anyone treated like a slave or a serf.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	helot	helot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	anyone	anyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
5	treated	treat	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl	_	_
6	like	like	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	slave	slave	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	serf	serf	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a helot | anyone |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **treat** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | like a slave or a serf | vn equip-13.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The helots farmed the land for the Spartans.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:helot:x1:1
# text = The helots farmed the land for the Spartans.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	helots	helot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	farmed	farm	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	land	land	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	Spartans	Spartan	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **farm** | past | the helots | the land |  |  |  | for the Spartans | vn rear-26.2.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent land=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There were many more helots than Spartan citizens.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:helot:x2:1
# text = There were many more helots than Spartan citizens.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	were	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
4	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	5	amod	_	_
5	helots	helot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
6	than	than	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	Spartan	spartan	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	citizens	citizen	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | past | many more helots than Spartan citizens |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Spartans feared that the helots would rebel.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:helot:x3:1
# text = Spartans feared that the helots would rebel.
1	Spartans	spartan	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	feared	fear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	helots	helot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
6	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	rebel	rebel	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fear** | past | Spartans |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 2 | **rebel** | would | the helots |  |  |  |  |  | vn rebel-71.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Helots could not leave the farms they worked on.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:helot:x4:1
# text = Helots could not leave the farms they worked on.
1	Helots	helot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	leave	leave	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	farms	farm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
7	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	worked	work	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
9	on	on	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **leave** | could | Helots | the farms |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent farm=Theme |
| 2 | **work on** | past | Helots *= helot* | the farms *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn knead-26.5 «NP V NP.material»: agent=Agent farm=Material |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The helots rose up against Sparta several times.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:helot:x5:1
# text = The helots rose up against Sparta several times.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	helots	helot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	rose	rise	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	up	up	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	against	against	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	Sparta	Sparta	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	several	several	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	times	time	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **rise up** | past | the helots |  |  | Sparta | time |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent against sparta=Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Spartan boys trained as soldiers while helots grew the food.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:helot:x6:1
# text = Spartan boys trained as soldiers while helots grew the food.
1	Spartan	spartan	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	boys	boy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	trained	train	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	as	as	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	soldiers	soldier	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
6	while	while	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
7	helots	helot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
8	grew	grow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	food	food	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 | **train** | participle · passive |  | Spartan boys |  |  |  | as soldiers | vn hire-13.5.3 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: subject=Theme as soldier=Attribute |
| 2 | **grow** | past | helots | the food |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location food=Theme |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [helmsman](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/helmsman/)
- next →: [help](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/help/)
- ↑ back to [H in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/)