---
title: lessen — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «lessen» in the school dictionary: To make something smaller, weaker or less: to lessen pain, noise or danger. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# lessen

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Wearing, danger, medicine, rain, we, Talking · **What happens:** make, lessen, become, wear, hurt, go · **To what, where:** something, pain, helmet, danger, head, tooth · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«lessen» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [lessen in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/lessen.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To make something smaller, weaker or less: to lessen pain, noise or danger.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lessen:m1:1
# text = To make something smaller, weaker or less: to lessen pain, noise or danger.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	make	make	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	smaller	small	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	weaker	weak	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	4	conj	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	less	less	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	lessen	lessen	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
12	pain	pain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	noise	noise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	danger	danger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  | small *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset something=Product |
| 2 | **lessen** | to-infinitive |  | pain and noise or danger |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent pain=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 become smaller, weaker or less.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lessen:m2:1
# text = To become smaller, weaker or less.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	become	become	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	smaller	small	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	weaker	weak	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	3	conj	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	less	less	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **become** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | small *property* | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Wearing a helmet lessens the danger of hurting your head.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lessen:x1:1
# text = Wearing a helmet lessens the danger of hurting your head.
1	Wearing	wear	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	csubj	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	helmet	helmet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	lessens	lessen	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	danger	danger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
8	hurting	hurt	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	acl	_	_
9	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wear** | gerund |  | a helmet |  |  |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent helmet=Theme |
| 2 | **lessen** | present | Wearing | the danger |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent danger=Patient |
| 3 | **hurt** | gerund | the danger *not said here* | your head |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer head=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The medicine lessened the pain in my tooth.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lessen:x2:1
# text = The medicine lessened the pain in my tooth.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	medicine	medicine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	lessened	lessen	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	pain	pain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	tooth	tooth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lessen** | past | the medicine | the pain |  | my tooth |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent pain=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The rain lessened, so we went outside.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lessen:x3:1
# text = The rain lessened, so we went outside.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	lessened	lessen	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
5	so	so	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
6	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
8	outside	outside	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lessen** | past | the rain |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **go** | past | we |  |  |  |  | outside *property* | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Talking about it lessened my worry.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lessen:x4:1
# text = Talking about it lessened my worry.
1	Talking	talk	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	csubj	_	_
2	about	about	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	1	obl	_	_
4	lessened	lessen	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	worry	worry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **talk** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | about it | vn talk-37.5 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent about it=Topic |
| 2 | **lessen** | past | Talking | my worry |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent worry=Patient |
| 3 | **worry** |  | my |  |  |  |  |  | nom worry «cognition intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Planting trees can lessen flooding.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lessen:x5:1
# text = Planting trees can lessen flooding.
1	Planting	plant	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	csubj	_	_
2	trees	tree	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	lessen	lessen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	flooding	flooding	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **plant** | gerund |  | trees |  |  |  |  | vn establish-55.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tree=Patient |
| 2 | **lessen** | can | Planting | flooding |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent flooding=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Turn the music down to lessen the noise.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lessen:x6:1
# text = Turn the music down to lessen the noise.
1	Turn	turn	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	music	music	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	down	down	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	lessen	lessen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	noise	noise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **turn down** | imperative | you *not said here* | the music |  |  |  | down *property* | vn reject-77.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent music=Theme |
| 2 | **lessen** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | the noise |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent noise=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The number of pupils with colds lessened after the holidays.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lessen:x7:1
# text = The number of pupils with colds lessened after the holidays.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	pupils	pupil	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	colds	cold	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
7	lessened	lessen	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
8	after	after	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	holidays	holiday	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lessen** | participle |  | colds *not said here* |  |  | after the holidays |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It thanked the Princess most heartily for her goodness, and said that its sufferings had already been greatly lessened.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lessen:x8:1
# text = It thanked the Princess most heartily for her goodness, and said that its sufferings had already been greatly lessened.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	thanked	thank	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	Princess	princess	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	most	most	ADV	RBS	Degree=Sup	6	advmod	_	_
6	heartily	heartily	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
7	for	for	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	goodness	goodness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	_
13	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	20	mark	_	_
14	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	15	nmod:poss	_	_
15	sufferings	suffering	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	nsubj	_	_
16	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	20	aux	_	_
17	already	already	ADV	RB	_	20	advmod	_	_
18	been	be	AUX	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	20	aux:pass	_	_
19	greatly	greatly	ADV	RB	_	20	advmod	_	_
20	lessened	lessen	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	12	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **thank** *speech: thank* | past | It |  | the Princess |  |  | for Princess's goodness; heartily *property* | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Agent princess=Theme for goodness=Attribute |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **lessen** | past · perfect · passive |  | goodness's sufferings |  |  |  | greatly *property* | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: subject=Patient |
| 4 | **suffer** |  | goodness |  |  |  |  |  | nom suffering «state intransitive»: poss=agent |

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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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