---
title: incense — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «incense» in the school dictionary: A substance, often made from tree gum, that gives off a sweet-smelling smoke when it is burned, used in worship. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# incense

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** that, priest, church, wise men, Incense smoke, someone · **What happens:** make, give off, smell, burn, use, swing · **To what, where:** substance, tree gum, smelling smoke, worship, someone, incense burner

<!-- .vabout -->
«incense» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [incense in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/incense.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A substance, often made from tree gum, that gives off a sweet-smelling smoke when it is burned, used in worship.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incense:m1:1
# text = A substance, often made from tree gum, that gives off a sweet-smelling smoke when it is burned, used in worship.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	substance	substance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	nsubj:pass	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
4	often	often	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	gum	gum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
11	gives	give	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	21	advcl	_	_
12	off	off	ADP	RP	_	11	compound:prt	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
14	sweet	sweet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	smelling	smell	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	17	amod	_	_
17	smoke	smoke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	_
18	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	21	advmod	_	_
19	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	21	nsubj:pass	_	_
20	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	21	aux:pass	_	_
21	burned	burn	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
23	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	21	conj	_	_
24	in	in	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
25	worship	worship	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	21	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | participle |  | a substance *not said here* |  | tree gum |  | often *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V PP»: agent=Asset from gum=Material |
| 2 | **give off** | present | that | a smelling smoke |  |  |  |  | vn substance\_emission-43.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Source smoke=Theme |
| 3 | **smell** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn smell\_emission-43.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **burn** | present · passive |  | a substance |  |  |  |  | vn light\_emission-43.1 «NP V NP.theme»: subject=Theme |
| 5 | **use** | participle |  |  |  | worship |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: 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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The smoke itself.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incense:m2:1
# text = The smoke itself.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	smoke	smoke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	itself	itself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Emp|Reflex=Yes	2	nmod:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: verb, stress on -CENSE — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To make someone extremely angry.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incense:m3:1
# text = To make someone extremely angry.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	make	make	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	extremely	extremely	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	angry	angry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | to-infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  | angry *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset someone=Product |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The priest swung the incense burner during the service.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incense:x1:1
# text = The priest swung the incense burner during the service.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	priest	priest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	swung	swing	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	incense	incense	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	burner	burner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	during	during	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	service	service	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **swing** | past | the priest | the incense burner |  |  | during the service |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent burner=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The church smelled of incense.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incense:x2:1
# text = The church smelled of incense.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	church	church	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	smelled	smell	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	incense	incense	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **smell** | past | the church |  |  |  |  | of incense | vn smell\_emission-43.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Location of incense=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The wise men brought gold, frankincense and myrrh.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incense:x3:1
# text = The wise men brought gold, frankincense and myrrh.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	wise	wise	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	men	man	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	brought	bring	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	gold	gold	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	frankincense	frankincense	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	myrrh	myrrh	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **bring** | past | the wise men | gold and frankincense and myrrh |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3-1 «NP V NP together»: agent=Agent gold=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Incense smoke rose slowly towards the ceiling.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incense:x4:1
# text = Incense smoke rose slowly towards the ceiling.
1	Incense	incense	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	smoke	smoke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	rose	rise	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	slowly	slowly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	towards	towards	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	ceiling	ceiling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **rise** | past | Incense smoke |  |  | the ceiling |  | slowly *property* | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme towards ceiling=Initial\_Location |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She was incensed when someone kicked over her sandcastle.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incense:x5:1
# text = She was incensed when someone kicked over her sandcastle.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	incensed	incense	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	6	advmod	_	_
5	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	nsubj	_	_
6	kicked	kick	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
7	over	over	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	sandcastle	sandcastle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **incense** | past · passive |  | She |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Experiencer |
| 2 | **kick** | past | someone |  |  | her sandcastle |  |  | vn split-23.2 «NP V apart»: agent=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The unfair rule incensed the whole class.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incense:x6:1
# text = The unfair rule incensed the whole class.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	unfair	unfair	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	rule	rule	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	incensed	incense	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	whole	whole	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **incense** | past | the unfair rule | the whole class |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus class=Experiencer |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The incense rises in clouds, and the monks chant the funeral hymn.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incense:x7:1
# text = The incense rises in clouds, and the monks chant the funeral hymn.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	incense	incense	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	rises	rise	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	clouds	cloud	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	monks	monk	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	_
10	chant	chant	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	funeral	funeral	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	compound	_	_
13	hymn	hymn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **rise** | present | the incense |  |  | clouds |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent in cloud=Location |
| 2 | **chant** | present | the monks | the funeral hymn |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hymn=Topic |

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**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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