---
title: hiccough — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «hiccough» in the school dictionary: An old spelling of «hiccup»: a sudden, sharp «hic» sound when a muscle under your lungs (the diaphragm) jerks and makes you breathe in. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# hiccough

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** old spelling, you, our, I, He, old book spells · **What happens:** make, breathe in, spell, plan, get, drink · **To what, where:** you, hiccup, sounds, hiccoughs, fizzy drink, school assembly

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An old spelling of «hiccup»: a sudden, sharp «hic» sound when a muscle under your lungs (the diaphragm) jerks and makes you breathe in.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hiccough:m1:1
# text = An old spelling of «hiccup»: a sudden, sharp «hic» sound when a muscle under your lungs (the diaphragm) jerks and makes you breathe in.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	spelling	spelling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	29	nsubj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	hiccup	hiccup	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	sudden	sudden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	29	csubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
12	sharp	sharp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
13	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	hic	hic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	_
16	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	_
17	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	27	advmod	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	muscle	muscle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	27	compound	_	_
20	under	under	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
21	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	22	nmod:poss	_	_
22	lungs	lung	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	nmod	_	_
23	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	25	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
25	diaphragm	diaphragm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	25	punct	_	_
27	jerks	jerk	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	nmod	_	_
28	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	29	cc	_	_
29	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
30	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	29	obj	_	_
31	breathe	breathe	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	29	xcomp	_	_
32	in	in	ADV	RB	_	31	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
33	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	29	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | a old spelling of hiccup | you |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **breathe in** | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn breathe-40.1.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **spell** |  |  | hiccup |  |  |  |  | nom spelling «communication transitive»: of=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: hiccoughs / hiccups — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A short spell of these sounds one after another.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hiccough:m2:1
# text = A short spell of these sounds one after another.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	spell	spell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	these	this	DET	DT	Number=Plur|PronType=Dem	6	det	_	_
6	sounds	sound	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	_
7	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	nmod	_	_
8	after	after	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spell** |  |  | this sounds  one after another |  |  |  |  | nom spell «state transitive»: of=patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A small problem or delay: «a hiccough in our plans».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hiccough:m3:1
# text = A small problem or delay: «a hiccough in our plans».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	problem	problem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	delay	delay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
7	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	hiccough	hiccough	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	appos	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	plans	plan	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **plan** *in a quote* |  | our |  |  |  |  |  | nom plan «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I got hiccoughs after drinking my fizzy drink too fast.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hiccough:x1:1
# text = I got hiccoughs after drinking my fizzy drink too fast.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	got	get	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	hiccoughs	hiccough	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	after	after	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
5	drinking	drink	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
6	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
7	fizzy	fizzy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	drink	drink	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
9	too	too	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	fast	fast	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | past | I | hiccoughs |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer hiccough=Stimulus |
| 2 | **drink** | gerund | I *not said here* | my fizzy drink |  |  |  | fast *property* | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent drink=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He hiccoughed all through the school assembly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hiccough:x2:1
# text = He hiccoughed all through the school assembly.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	hiccoughed	hiccough	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	all	all	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
4	through	through	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	assembly	assembly	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hiccough** | past | He |  |  | the school assembly |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The old book spells hiccup as «hiccough».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hiccough:x3:1
# text = The old book spells hiccup as «hiccough».
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	spells	spell	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
5	hiccup	hiccup	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	as	as	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	hiccough	hiccough	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hiccup** | present | the old book spells |  |  |  |  | as hiccough | vn hiccup-40.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My little brother tried to scare away my hiccoughs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hiccough:x4:1
# text = My little brother tried to scare away my hiccoughs.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	tried	try	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	scare	scare	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	away	away	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
8	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	hiccoughs	hiccough	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | past | My little brother |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **scare away** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | My little brother *not said here* | my hiccoughs |  |  |  | away *property* | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus hiccough=Experiencer |
| 3 | **hiccough** |  | my |  |  |  |  |  | nom hiccough «state intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There was a small hiccough with the bus, but we arrived on time.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hiccough:x5:1
# text = There was a small hiccough with the bus, but we arrived on time.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	was	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	hiccough	hiccough	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	bus	bus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
12	arrived	arrive	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	_
13	on	on	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | past | a small hiccough with the bus |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **arrive** | past | we |  |  |  | time |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Hiccoughs happen when your diaphragm jerks.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hiccough:x6:1
# text = Hiccoughs happen when your diaphragm jerks.
1	Hiccoughs	hiccough	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	happen	happen	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	6	mark	_	_
4	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	diaphragm	diaphragm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	jerks	jerk	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **happen** | present | Hiccoughs |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **jerk** | present | your diaphragm |  |  |  |  |  | vn push-12-1 «NP V PP-Conative»: agent=Agent |

<!-- 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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