---
title: janissary — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «janissary» in the school dictionary: A soldier in the elite foot army of the Ottoman (Turkish) sultans, from about the 1300s to 1826. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# janissary

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** guard, powerful leader, janissaries, Janissary bands, boys, sultan · **What happens:** do, want, guard, play, take, close down · **To what, where:** whatever, Ottoman sultan, loud drums, Many janissaries, families, janissaries

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A soldier in the elite foot army of the Ottoman (Turkish) sultans, from about the 1300s to 1826.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:janissary:m1:1
# text = A soldier in the elite foot army of the Ottoman (Turkish) sultans, from about the 1300s to 1826.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	soldier	soldier	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	compound	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	elite	elite	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	foot	foot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	army	army	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	Ottoman	ottoman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
11	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	Turkish	Turkish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	12	punct	_	_
14	sultans	sultan	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
16	from	from	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
17	about	about	ADV	RB	_	19	advmod	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	1300s	1300	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan|NumForm=Combi|NumType=Card	14	conj	_	_
20	to	to	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
21	1826	1826	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	19	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	14	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A loyal follower or guard who does whatever a powerful leader wants.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:janissary:m2:1
# text = A loyal follower or guard who does whatever a powerful leader wants.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	loyal	loyal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	follower	follower	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	guard	guard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
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	whatever	whatever	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	12	obj	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	powerful	powerful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	leader	leader	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
12	wants	want	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | present | guard |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **want** | present | a powerful leader | whatever |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot whatever=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The janissaries guarded the Ottoman sultan.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:janissary:x1:1
# text = The janissaries guarded the Ottoman sultan.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	janissaries	janissary	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	guarded	guard	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	Ottoman	ottoman	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	sultan	sultan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **guard** | past | the janissaries | the Ottoman sultan |  |  |  |  | vn defend-72.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sultan=Beneficiary |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Janissary bands played loud drums and cymbals.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:janissary:x2:1
# text = Janissary bands played loud drums and cymbals.
1	Janissary	Janissary	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	bands	band	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	played	play	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	loud	loud	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	drums	drum	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	cymbals	cymbal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **play** | past | Janissary bands | loud drums and cymbals |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent drum=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Many janissaries were taken from their families as boys.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:janissary:x3:1
# text = Many janissaries were taken from their families as boys.
1	Many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	janissaries	janissary	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	taken	take	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	families	family	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
8	as	as	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	boys	boy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl:agent	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | past · passive | boys | Many janissaries |  | janissaries's families |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP PP.initial\_location»: agent=Agent subject=Theme from family=Initial\_Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The sultan closed down the janissaries in 1826.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:janissary:x4:1
# text = The sultan closed down the janissaries in 1826.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sultan	sultan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	closed	close	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	down	down	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	janissaries	janissary	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	1826	1826	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **close down** | participle | the sultan *not said here* | the janissaries |  |  |  | in 1826 | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP PP.recipient PP.theme»: agent=Agent janissary=Patient in 1826=Topic |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our history book shows a janissary with a tall white hat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:janissary:x5:1
# text = Our history book shows a janissary with a tall white hat.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	history	history	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	shows	show	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	janissary	janissary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
9	tall	tall	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
10	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	hat	hat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | present | Our history book | a janissary |  |  |  | with a tall white hat | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent janissary=Recipient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The janissaries were famous for their discipline.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:janissary:x6:1
# text = The janissaries were famous for their discipline.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	janissaries	janissary	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	famous	famous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	discipline	discipline	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the janissaries |  |  |  |  | for janissaries's discipline; famous *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **discipline** |  | janissaries *= janissary* |  |  |  |  |  | nom discipline «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some dictators surround themselves with janissaries who never question them.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:janissary:x7:1
# text = Some dictators surround themselves with janissaries who never question them.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	dictators	dictator	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	surround	surround	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	themselves	themselves	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	3	obj	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	janissaries	janissary	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
7	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
8	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
9	question	question	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
10	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **surround** | present | some dictators | dictators *= dictator* |  |  |  | with janissaries | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent themselves=Destination with janissary=Theme |
| 2 | **not** **question** *speech: other* | present | janissaries | dictators *= dictator* |  |  |  |  | vn interrogate-37.1.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent they=Recipient |

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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.

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