---
title: kenning — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «kenning» in the school dictionary: A kenning is a short, two-word phrase that names something in a clever, poetic way instead of using its usual name, such as «whale-road» for the sea or «sky-candle» for the sun. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# kenning

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** kenning, short word phrase, Whale road, you, dog, Viking poets · **What happens:** be, name, use, write, guess · **To what, where:** short word phrase, something, clever poetic way, usual name, Kennings, Old English · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«kenning» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [kenning in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/kenning.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A kenning is a short, two-word phrase that names something in a clever, poetic way instead of using its usual name, such as «whale-road» for the sea or «sky-candle» for the sun.

<!-- fold The tree, 35 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:kenning:m1:1
# text = A kenning is a short, two-word phrase that names something in a clever, poetic way instead of using its usual name, such as «whale-road» for the sea or «sky-candle» for the sun.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	kenning	kenning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
5	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	phrase	phrase	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
11	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	12	nsubj	_	_
12	names	name	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	acl:relcl	_	_
13	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	12	obj	_	_
14	in	in	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
16	clever	clever	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
18	poetic	poetic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	_
20	instead	instead	ADV	RB	ExtPos=SCONJ	22	mark	_	_
21	of	of	ADP	IN	_	20	fixed	_	_
22	using	use	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	12	advcl	_	_
23	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	25	nmod:poss	_	_
24	usual	usual	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	25	amod	_	_
25	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	32	punct	_	_
27	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	32	case	_	_
28	as	as	ADP	IN	_	27	fixed	_	_
29	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	32	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	whale	whale	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	32	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	30	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
32	road	road	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
33	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	32	punct	_	_
34	for	for	ADP	IN	_	36	case	_	_
35	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	36	det	_	_
36	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	obl	_	_
37	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	41	cc	_	_
38	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	41	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
39	sky	sky	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	41	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
40	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	41	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
41	candle	candle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	36	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
42	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	41	punct	_	_
43	for	for	ADP	IN	_	45	case	_	_
44	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	45	det	_	_
45	sun.	sun.	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a kenning | a short word phrase |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **name** | present | a short word phrase | something |  | a clever poetic way |  |  | vn appoint-29.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Theme |
| 3 | **use** | gerund | a short word phrase *not said here* | kenning's usual name |  |  |  | for the sea or sky candle; for the sun. | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP PP.predicate»: agent=Agent name=Theme for sea=Eventuality |
| 4 | **name** |  | kenning |  |  |  |  |  | nom name «communication transitive»: poss=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 -->
Kennings were used a lot in Old English and Old Norse poems, such as «Beowulf» and Viking sagas.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:kenning:m2:1
# text = Kennings were used a lot in Old English and Old Norse poems, such as «Beowulf» and Viking sagas.
1	Kennings	kenning	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	lot	lot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	Old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	English	English	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
10	Old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
11	Norse	norse	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	poems	poem	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
14	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	17	case	_	_
15	as	as	ADP	IN	_	14	fixed	_	_
16	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	Beowulf	Beowulf	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	12	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	17	punct	_	_
19	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
20	Viking	viking	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	compound	_	_
21	sagas	saga	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past · passive |  | Kennings |  | Old English and Old Norse poems and Viking sagas |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Whale-road» is a kenning for the sea.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:kenning:x1:1
# text = «Whale-road» is a kenning for the sea.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Whale	whale	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	road	road	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	kenning	kenning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	for	for	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Whale road | a kenning |  |  |  | for the sea | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Write a kenning poem about your pet.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:kenning:x2:1
# text = Write a kenning poem about your pet.
1	Write	write	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	kenning	kenning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	poem	poem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	about	about	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	pet	pet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | imperative | you *not said here* | a kenning poem |  |  |  | about your pet | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent poem=Recipient about pet=Topic |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A dog could be a «ball-chaser» or «postman-scarer».

<!-- fold The tree, 10 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:kenning:x3:1
# text = A dog could be a «ball-chaser» or «postman-scarer».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
3	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
4	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
6	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	ball	ball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	chaser	chaser	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
12	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	postman	postman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	scarer	scarer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** *in a quote* | could | a dog | a ball chaser or postman scarer |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Viking poets used kennings like «bone-house» for the body.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:kenning:x4:1
# text = Viking poets used kennings like «bone-house» for the body.
1	Viking	viking	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	poets	poet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	kennings	kenning	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	like	like	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
6	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	bone	bone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
11	for	for	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past | Viking poets | kennings |  |  |  | like bone house; for the body | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP PP.predicate»: agent=Agent kenning=Theme for body=Eventuality |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our class guessed that «night-light» was a kenning for the moon.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:kenning:x5:1
# text = Our class guessed that «night-light» was a kenning for the moon.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	guessed	guess	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
5	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	_
10	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	kenning	kenning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	ccomp	_	_
13	for	for	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	moon	moon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **guess** | past | Our class |  |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | past | night light | a kenning |  |  |  | for the moon | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Each line of a kenning poem is two words.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:kenning:x6:1
# text = Each line of a kenning poem is two words.
1	Each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	2	det	_	_
2	line	line	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	kenning	kenning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	poem	poem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | each line of a kenning poem | two words |  |  |  |  | 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 -->

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