---
title: imprison — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «imprison» in the school dictionary: To put someone in prison or keep them locked up. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# imprison

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** them, they, you, your, wicked queen, bird · **What happens:** put, keep, lock up, trap, not leave, value · **To what, where:** someone, prison, them, something, honour, thief

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To put someone in prison or keep them locked up.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:imprison:m1:1
# text = To put someone in prison or keep them locked up.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	put	put	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	prison	prison	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	keep	keep	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
8	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	locked	lock	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	xcomp	_	_
10	up	up	ADP	RP	_	9	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **put** | to-infinitive |  | someone |  | prison |  |  | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent someone=Theme in prison=Destination |
| 2 | **keep** | infinitive |  | them *= they* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **lock up** | participle | them *= they* *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn tape-22.4 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To trap or keep someone or something somewhere so they cannot leave.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:imprison:m2:1
# text = To trap or keep someone or something somewhere so they cannot leave.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	trap	trap	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	keep	keep	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
5	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	obj	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	conj	_	_
8	somewhere	somewhere	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	4	advmod	_	_
9	so	so	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
10	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
11	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	13	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	13	advmod	_	_
13	leave	leave	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **trap** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **keep** | infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  | somewhere *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent someone=Theme |
| 3 | **not** **leave** | can | they |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To keep something you value, such as your honour, shut away so that it cannot be used or freed.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:imprison:m3:1
# text = To keep something you value, such as your honour, shut away so that it cannot be used or freed.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	advcl	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	value	value	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
7	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	10	case	_	_
8	as	as	ADP	IN	_	7	fixed	_	_
9	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	honour	honour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	shut	shut	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
13	away	away	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
14	so	so	SCONJ	IN	ExtPos=SCONJ	20	mark	_	_
15	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	14	fixed	_	_
16	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	20	nsubj:pass	_	_
17	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	20	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	20	advmod	_	_
19	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	20	aux:pass	_	_
20	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	12	advcl	_	_
21	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
22	freed	free	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	20	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Theme |
| 2 | **value** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **shut away** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | away *property* | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 4 | **not** **use** | can · passive |  | honour |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |
| 5 | **free** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn free-10.6.3-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Causer |
| 6 | **honour** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom honour «state transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The thief was imprisoned for three years.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:imprison:x1:1
# text = The thief was imprisoned for three years.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	thief	thief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	imprisoned	imprison	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
7	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **imprison** | past · passive |  | the thief |  |  | year |  | vn confine-92 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The wicked queen imprisoned the princess in a tower.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:imprison:x2:1
# text = The wicked queen imprisoned the princess in a tower.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	wicked	wicked	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	queen	queen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	imprisoned	imprison	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	princess	princess	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	tower	tower	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **imprison** | participle | the wicked queen *not said here* | the princess |  | a tower |  |  | vn pocket-9.10 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent princess=Theme in tower=Destination |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the Bible, Paul was imprisoned for preaching.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:imprison:x3:1
# text = In the Bible, Paul was imprisoned for preaching.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	Bible	Bible	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	Paul	Paul	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	imprisoned	imprison	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	preaching	preaching	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **imprison** | past · passive |  | Paul |  | the Bible |  | for preaching | vn pocket-9.10 «NP V NP PP.destination»: subject=Theme in bible=Destination |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The bird felt imprisoned in its small cage.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:imprison:x4:1
# text = The bird felt imprisoned in its small cage.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	felt	feel	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	imprisoned	imprison	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	xcomp	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
7	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	cage	cage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **feel** | past | the bird |  |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5-2 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **imprison** | participle | the bird *not said here* |  |  | bird's small cage |  |  | vn pocket-9.10 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent in cage=Destination |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some people have been wrongly imprisoned.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:imprison:x5:1
# text = Some people have been wrongly imprisoned.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	have	have	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
4	been	be	AUX	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	6	aux:pass	_	_
5	wrongly	wrongly	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	imprisoned	imprison	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **imprison** | present · perfect · passive |  | some people |  |  |  | wrongly *property* | vn confine-92 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The snow imprisoned us in the cabin for two days.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:imprison:x6:1
# text = The snow imprisoned us in the cabin for two days.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	snow	snow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	imprisoned	imprison	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	cabin	cabin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	10	nummod	_	_
10	days	day	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **imprison** | past | the snow | us |  | the cabin | day |  | vn pocket-9.10 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent we=Theme in cabin=Destination |

<!-- 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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