---
title: idiot — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «idiot» in the school dictionary: An idiot is a person who does something very stupid; it is an insult. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# idiot

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** idiot, person, People, It, medical word, I · **What happens:** be, do, call, make, not use, leave · **To what, where:** person, something, insult, People, silly mistake, medical word · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«idiot» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [idiot in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/idiot.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An idiot is a person who does something very stupid; it is an insult.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:idiot:m1:1
# text = An idiot is a person who does something very stupid; it is an insult.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	idiot	idiot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	does	do	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	obj	_	_
9	very	very	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	stupid	stupid	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
12	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
13	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	cop	_	_
14	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	insult	insult	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a idiot | a person and a insult |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **do** | present | a person and a insult | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |
| 3 | **is a** | present | idiot | a insult |  |  |  |  | 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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
People call themselves or a friend an idiot when they make a silly mistake.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:idiot:m2:1
# text = People call themselves or a friend an idiot when they make a silly mistake.
1	People	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	call	call	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	themselves	themselves	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	2	obj	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	friend	friend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
7	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	idiot	idiot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	xcomp	_	_
9	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	11	advmod	_	_
10	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
11	make	make	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	silly	silly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	mistake	mistake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | present | People | People |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent themselves=Recipient |
| 2 | **make** | present | People | a silly mistake |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset mistake=Product |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: old, now offensive — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It was once a medical word for a person with a learning disability; it is not used that way now.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:idiot:m3:1
# text = It was once a medical word for a person with a learning disability; it is not used that way now.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
3	once	once	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	6	advmod	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	medical	medical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
10	with	with	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	learning	learning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	compound	_	_
13	disability	disability	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	18	punct	_	_
15	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	18	nsubj:pass	_	_
16	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	18	aux:pass	_	_
17	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	18	advmod	_	_
18	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
19	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	20	det	_	_
20	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obl:unmarked	_	_
21	now	now	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	18	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | It | a medical word |  |  |  | for a person with a learning disability; once *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **use** | present · passive | a medical word *not said here* | disability |  |  | now | that way *obl:unmarked* | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I'm such an idiot — I left my lunch at home!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:idiot:x1:1
# text = I'm such an idiot — I left my lunch at home!
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	'm	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	such	such	DET	PDT	PronType=Ind	5	det:predet	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	idiot	idiot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
7	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	left	leave	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
9	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	lunch	lunch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
11	at	at	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	home	home	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | I | such idiot |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **leave** | past | I | my lunch |  | home |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent lunch=Theme at home=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't call your brother an idiot; it's unkind.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:idiot:x2:1
# text = Don't call your brother an idiot; it's unkind.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	call	call	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	idiot	idiot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
11	unkind	unkind	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **call** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* |  | your brother |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent brother=Recipient |
| 2 | **is** | present | idiot |  |  |  |  | unkind *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He felt like an idiot when he fell in the puddle.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:idiot:x3:1
# text = He felt like an idiot when he fell in the puddle.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	felt	feel	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	like	like	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	idiot	idiot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	8	advmod	_	_
7	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	fell	fall	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	puddle	puddle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **feel** | past | He |  |  |  |  | like a idiot | vn conjecture-29.5-2 «NP V S»: agent=Agent like idiot=Theme |
| 2 | **fall** | past | he |  |  | the puddle |  |  | vn occur-48.3 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme in puddle=Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Only an idiot would cycle without lights at night. (rude)

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Only an idiot would cycle without lights at night.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:idiot:x4:1
# text = Only an idiot would cycle without lights at night.
1	Only	only	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
2	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	idiot	idiot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	cycle	cycle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	without	without	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	lights	light	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
8	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

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

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* (rude)

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:idiot:x4:2
# text = (rude)
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	rude	rude	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She made an idiot of herself at the party.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:idiot:x5:1
# text = She made an idiot of herself at the party.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	idiot	idiot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	herself	herself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	4	nmod	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	party	party	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | She | a idiot of herself |  | the party |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent idiot=Product |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«You idiot!» shouted the driver. (rude)

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* «You idiot!» shouted the driver.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:idiot:x6:1
# text = «You idiot!» shouted the driver.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	idiot	idiot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
6	shouted	shout	VERB	VBD	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	driver	driver	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **idiot** *in a quote* |  | You |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **shout** *speech: express* | past | idiot | the driver |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent driver=Topic |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* (rude)

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:idiot:x6:2
# text = (rude)
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	rude	rude	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I was an idiot to forget the key, laughed Dad.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:idiot:x7:1
# text = I was an idiot to forget the key, laughed Dad.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	idiot	idiot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	forget	forget	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	acl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	key	key	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	laughed	laugh	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	_
11	Dad	Dad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | I | a idiot |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **forget** | to-infinitive |  | the key |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **laugh** | past | the key *not said here* | Dad |  |  |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent dad=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
‘Ahem!’ There he stood like an idiot.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* ‘Ahem!’

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:idiot:x8:1
# text = ‘Ahem!’
1	‘	'	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Ahem	ahem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	’	'	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* There he stood like an idiot.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:idiot:x8:2
# text = There he stood like an idiot.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	3	expl	_	_
2	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	stood	stand	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	like	like	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	idiot	idiot	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 | **stand** | past | he |  |  | there |  | like a idiot | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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