---
title: ladylike — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «ladylike» in the school dictionary: Ladylike describes behaviour that people used to think was polite, quiet and proper for a woman or girl, such as sitting neatly and speaking softly. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# ladylike

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** people, girl, Saying, girls, Great Aunt, climbing · **What happens:** describe, use, think, be, sit, speak · **To what, where:** behaviour, something, girls, trees, unladylike burp, ladylike manners · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ladylike describes behaviour that people used to think was polite, quiet and proper for a woman or girl, such as sitting neatly and speaking softly.

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ladylike:m1:1
# text = Ladylike describes behaviour that people used to think was polite, quiet and proper for a woman or girl, such as sitting neatly and speaking softly.
1	Ladylike	ladylike	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	describes	describe	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	behaviour	behaviour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	obj	_	_
5	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
6	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	acl:relcl	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	think	think	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
9	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	polite	polite	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	quiet	quiet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	conj	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	proper	proper	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	conj	_	_
15	for	for	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	woman	woman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	_
18	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	girl	girl	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
21	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=SCONJ	23	mark	_	_
22	as	as	ADP	IN	_	21	fixed	_	_
23	sitting	sit	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	19	acl	_	_
24	neatly	neatly	ADV	RB	_	23	advmod	_	_
25	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	26	cc	_	_
26	speaking	speak	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	23	conj	_	_
27	softly	softly	ADV	RB	_	26	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **describe** | present |  | behaviour |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent behaviour=Theme |
| 2 | **use** | past | people | behaviour |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent that=Theme clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **think** *speech: other* | to-infinitive | people *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **is** | past |  |  |  |  |  | polite *property* | tree rules |
| 5 | **be** |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 6 | **be** |  |  |  |  |  |  | for a woman or girl | tree rules |
| 7 | **sit** | gerund | girl *not said here* |  |  |  |  | neatly *property* | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 8 | **speak** *speech: other* | gerund | girl *not said here* |  |  |  |  | softly *property* | vn talk-37.5 «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}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: often old-fashioned or critical — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Saying something is "not ladylike" was used to stop girls running, shouting or getting dirty.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ladylike:m2:1
# text = Saying something is "not ladylike" was used to stop girls running, shouting or getting dirty.
1	Saying	say	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	csubj	_	_
2	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	1	obj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	6	advmod	_	_
6	ladylike	ladylike	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
8	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux:pass	_	_
9	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	conj	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	stop	stop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	advcl	_	_
12	girls	girl	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obj	_	_
13	running	run	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	12	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
15	shouting	shout	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	13	conj	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	getting	get	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	13	conj	_	_
18	dirty	dirty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | gerund |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent something=Topic |
| 2 | **not** **is** *in a quote* | present | Saying |  |  |  |  | ladylike *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **use** | past · passive | Saying *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V» |
| 4 | **stop** | to-infinitive | Saying *not said here* | girls |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality girl=Eventuality |
| 5 | **run** | gerund | girls *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 6 | **shout** *speech: express* | gerund | girls *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 7 | **get** | gerund | girls *not said here* |  |  |  |  | dirty *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Great-Aunt Edith said climbing trees wasn't ladylike.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ladylike:x1:1
# text = Great-Aunt Edith said climbing trees wasn't ladylike.
1	Great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	1	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	Aunt	aunt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	Edith	Edith	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	climbing	climb	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	csubj	_	_
7	trees	tree	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
8	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
10	ladylike	ladylike	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | Great Aunt |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **climb** | gerund |  | trees |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Initial\_Location tree=Theme |
| 3 | **not** **is** | past | climbing |  |  |  |  | ladylike *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She gave a very unladylike burp and laughed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ladylike:x2:1
# text = She gave a very unladylike burp and laughed.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
4	very	very	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	unladylike	unladylike	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	burp	burp	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	laughed	laugh	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | She | a unladylike burp |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent burp=Theme |
| 2 | **laugh** | past | She *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The girls in the old book were taught to be ladylike.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ladylike:x3:1
# text = The girls in the old book were taught to be ladylike.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	girls	girl	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
7	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux:pass	_	_
8	taught	teach	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
10	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	cop	_	_
11	ladylike	ladylike	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **teach** *speech: other* | past · passive |  | the girls in the old book |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: subject=Recipient |
| 2 | **is** | to-infinitive | the girls in the old book *not said here* |  |  |  |  | ladylike *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Maddie didn't care about being ladylike; she wanted to win.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ladylike:x4:1
# text = Maddie didn't care about being ladylike; she wanted to win.
1	Maddie	Maddie	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	care	care	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	about	about	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	cop	_	_
7	ladylike	ladylike	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
9	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	wanted	want	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	parataxis	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	win	win	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **care** | past · do-support | Maddie |  |  |  |  |  | vn care-88.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **is** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | ladylike *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **want** | past | Maddie |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 4 | **win** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | Maddie *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her grandmother had ladylike manners and a soft voice.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ladylike:x5:1
# text = Her grandmother had ladylike manners and a soft voice.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	grandmother	grandmother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	ladylike	ladylike	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	manners	manners	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan	3	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	soft	soft	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	voice	voice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | Her grandmother | ladylike manners and a soft voice |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent manners=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"That's not ladylike!" "Neither is it gentlemanly – it's just rude!"

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* "That's not ladylike!" "

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ladylike:x6:1
# text = "That's not ladylike!" "
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	That	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	ladylike	ladylike	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
8	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is** *in a quote* | present | That |  |  |  |  | ladylike *property* | tree rules |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* Neither is it gentlemanly – it's just rude!"

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ladylike:x6:2
# text = Neither is it gentlemanly – it's just rude!"
1	Neither	neither	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	9	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
3	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
4	gentlemanly	gentlemanly	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
5	–	-	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	just	just	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	rude	rude	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Neither |  |  |  |  | gentlemanly, rude *property* | 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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