---
title: idleness — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «idleness» in the school dictionary: Idleness is being lazy and not working or doing anything useful. 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/I/idleness/)

<!-- 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/) / [I](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/) / idleness

# idleness

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Idleness, grasshopper, ants, factory machines, little idleness, Idle hands · **What happens:** be, not work, do, not be, spend, work · **To what, where:** anything, use, idleness, homework, mischief, great sin · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Idleness is being lazy and not working or doing anything useful.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:idleness:m1:1
# text = Idleness is being lazy and not working or doing anything useful.
1	Idleness	idleness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	cop	_	_
4	lazy	lazy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
6	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
7	working	work	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	conj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	doing	do	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	conj	_	_
10	anything	anything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	obj	_	_
11	useful	useful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Idleness |  |  |  |  | lazy *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **work** | gerund | Idleness *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **do** | gerund | Idleness *not said here* | anything |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent anything=Eventuality |

<!-- .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 -->
Idleness is also simply not being in use or not busy: a machine's idleness.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:idleness:m2:1
# text = Idleness is also simply not being in use or not busy: a machine's idleness.
1	Idleness	idleness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
3	also	also	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
4	simply	simply	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
5	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
6	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	8	cop	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	use	use	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
10	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
11	busy	busy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	16	punct	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	machine	machine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	's	's	PART	POS	_	14	case	_	_
16	idleness	idleness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is** | present | Idleness |  |  | use and a machine's idleness |  | simply *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **be** |  | Idleness *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The grasshopper spent the summer in idleness while the ants worked.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:idleness:x1:1
# text = The grasshopper spent the summer in idleness while the ants worked.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	grasshopper	grasshopper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	spent	spend	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	summer	summer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	idleness	idleness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	while	while	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	ants	ant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nsubj	_	_
11	worked	work	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spend** | past | the grasshopper |  |  | idleness | summer |  | vn consume-66-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **work** | past | the ants |  |  |  |  |  | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His idleness meant his homework never got done.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:idleness:x2:1
# text = His idleness meant his homework never got done.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	idleness	idleness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	meant	mean	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	homework	homework	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
7	got	get	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
8	done	done	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | past | His idleness | idleness's homework |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent homework=Topic |
| 2 | **not** **get** | past | His idleness *not said here* |  |  |  |  | done *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
After weeks of idleness, the factory machines were rusty.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:idleness:x3:1
# text = After weeks of idleness, the factory machines were rusty.
1	After	after	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	weeks	week	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obl	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	idleness	idleness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	factory	factory	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	machines	machine	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	_
9	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	rusty	rusty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the factory machines |  |  |  | week | rusty *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A little idleness on a holiday can be nice.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:idleness:x4:1
# text = A little idleness on a holiday can be nice.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	idleness	idleness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	holiday	holiday	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
8	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	cop	_	_
9	nice	nice	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | can | a little idleness on a holiday |  |  |  |  | nice *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Idle hands make mischief,» Grandma says.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:idleness:x5:1
# text = «Idle hands make mischief,» Grandma says.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Idle	idle	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	hands	hand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	make	make	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	ccomp	_	_
5	mischief	mischief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
8	Grandma	Grandma	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** *in a quote* | present | Idle hands | mischief |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset mischief=Product |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | Grandma |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Idleness made the long afternoon feel boring.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:idleness:x6:1
# text = Idleness made the long afternoon feel boring.
1	Idleness	idleness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	afternoon	afternoon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	feel	feel	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
7	boring	boring	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | Idleness |  |  |  | afternoon |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **feel** | infinitive | Idleness *not said here* |  |  |  |  | boring *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Idleness is a great sin, and I certainly don’t like any of my friends to be idle or sluggish.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:idleness:x7:1
# text = Idleness is a great sin, and I certainly don’t like any of my friends to be idle or sluggish.
1	Idleness	idleness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	sin	sin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
8	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
9	certainly	certainly	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	do	do	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	n’t	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
12	like	like	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	any	any	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	10	obl	_	_
14	of	of	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	16	nmod:poss	_	_
16	friends	friend	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	nmod	_	_
17	to	to	PART	TO	_	19	mark	_	_
18	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	19	cop	_	_
19	idle	idle	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	acl	_	_
20	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
21	sluggish	sluggish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Idleness | a great sin |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **do** | present | I |  |  |  |  | like any; certainly *property* | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is** | to-infinitive | I *not said here* |  |  |  |  | idle *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **be** |  | I *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- 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: [idle](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/idle/)
- next →: [idler](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/idler/)
- ↑ back to [I in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/)