---
title: housewife — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «housewife» in the school dictionary: A woman whose main work is looking after her home and family, not working at a paid job. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# housewife

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** woman, great grandmother, Housewives, advert, soldier, young housewife · **What happens:** look, not work, pay, bake, be, wash · **To what, where:** housewife, clothes, homemaker, happy housewife, uniform

<!-- .vabout -->
«housewife» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [housewife in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/housewife.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A woman whose main work is looking after her home and family, not working at a paid job.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:housewife:m1:1
# text = A woman whose main work is looking after her home and family, not working at a paid job.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	woman	woman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	whose	whose	PRON	WP$	Poss=Yes|PronType=Rel	5	nmod:poss	_	_
4	main	main	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	looking	look	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
8	after	after	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	home	home	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
14	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	15	advmod	_	_
15	working	work	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	conj	_	_
16	at	at	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
18	paid	pay	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	19	amod	_	_
19	job	job	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | present · progressive | a woman |  |  |  | after work's home and family |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **not** **work** | gerund | a woman *not said here* |  |  |  |  | at a paid job | vn employment-95.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent at job=Theme |
| 3 | **pay** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn pay-68-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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: old, UK, also «hussif» — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A small sewing kit.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:housewife:m2:1
# text = A small sewing kit.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	sewing	sewing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	kit	kit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the old story, the housewife baked bread every morning.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:housewife:x1:1
# text = In the old story, the housewife baked bread every morning.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	housewife	housewife	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
8	baked	bake	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	amod	_	_
9	bread	bread	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
10	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	11	det	_	_
11	morning	morning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **bake** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn cooking-45.3 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My great-grandmother was a housewife with seven children.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:housewife:x2:1
# text = My great-grandmother was a housewife with seven children.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
2	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	grandmother	grandmother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	housewife	housewife	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	seven	seven	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	10	nummod	_	_
10	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | My great grandmother | a housewife |  |  |  | with seven children | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Housewives once washed clothes by hand.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:housewife:x3:1
# text = Housewives once washed clothes by hand.
1	Housewives	housewife	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	once	once	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	3	advmod	_	_
3	washed	wash	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	clothes	clothes	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan	3	obj	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	hand	hand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wash** | past | Housewives | clothes |  |  |  | by hand; once *property* | vn floss-41.2.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent clothes=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Today, «homemaker» is used more than «housewife».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:housewife:x4:1
# text = Today, «homemaker» is used more than «housewife».
1	Today	today	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
3	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	homemaker	homemaker	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj:pass	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
8	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	7	advmod	_	_
9	than	than	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	housewife	housewife	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present · passive |  | homemaker |  |  | today |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The advert showed a happy housewife with a new washing machine.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:housewife:x5:1
# text = The advert showed a happy housewife with a new washing machine.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	advert	advert	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	showed	show	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	happy	happy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	housewife	housewife	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
9	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
10	washing	washing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	machine	machine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | past | the advert |  | a happy housewife |  |  | with a new washing machine | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent housewife=Recipient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The soldier carried a housewife to mend his uniform.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:housewife:x6:1
# text = The soldier carried a housewife to mend his uniform.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	soldier	soldier	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	carried	carry	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	housewife	housewife	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	mend	mend	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
8	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	uniform	uniform	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **carry** | past | the soldier | a housewife |  |  |  |  | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent housewife=Theme |
| 2 | **mend** | to-infinitive | the soldier *not said here* | soldier's uniform |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A young housewife was spinning late one evening.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:housewife:x7:1
# text = A young housewife was spinning late one evening.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	young	young	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	housewife	housewife	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	spinning	spin	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
6	late	late	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	8	advmod	_	_
7	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	evening	evening	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spin** | past · progressive | a young housewife |  |  |  | evening |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=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 -->

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