---
title: louse — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «louse» in the school dictionary: A tiny insect without wings that lives on the skin or hair of people or animals and feeds on blood; plural «lice». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# louse

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** tiny insect, note, child, louse, Mum, Lice · **What happens:** live, louse, spoil, mess up, be, say · **To what, where:** skin, something, head lice, tiny insect, hair, parasites · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A tiny insect without wings that lives on the skin or hair of people or animals and feeds on blood; plural «lice».

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:louse:m1:1
# text = A tiny insect without wings that lives on the skin or hair of people or animals and feeds on blood; plural «lice».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	insect	insect	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	without	without	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	wings	wing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	lives	live	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	acl:relcl	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	skin	skin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	hair	hair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	_
13	of	of	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	nmod	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	conj	_	_
17	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	feeds	feed	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	conj	_	_
19	on	on	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
20	blood	blood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	24	punct	_	_
22	plural	plural	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	24	amod	_	_
23	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	24	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	lice	louse	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	24	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** | present | a tiny insect without wings |  |  | the skin or hair of people or animals and feeds on blood |  |  | vn exist-47.1-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on skin=Location |

<!-- .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: slang, rude — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A nasty, mean person; plural «louses».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:louse:m2:1
# text = A nasty, mean person; plural «louses».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
2	nasty	nasty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	mean	mean	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
7	plural	plural	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	louses	louse	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	advcl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **louse** *in a quote* | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn pit-10.7 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: louse up, informal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To spoil or mess something up.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:louse:m3:1
# text = To spoil or mess something up.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	spoil	spoil	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	mess	mess	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	obj	_	_
6	up	up	ADP	RP	_	4	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spoil** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn entity\_specific\_cos-45.5 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **mess up** | infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There's a note from school saying a child in our class has head lice.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:louse:x1:1
# text = There's a note from school saying a child in our class has head lice.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	note	note	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
7	saying	say	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	acl	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	child	child	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	_
13	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	ccomp	_	_
14	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	compound	_	_
15	lice	louse	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | present | a note from school |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | gerund | a note from school *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **have** | present | a child in our class | head lice |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent louse=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A louse is a tiny insect that lives in hair.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:louse:x2:1
# text = A louse is a tiny insect that lives in hair.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	louse	louse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	insect	insect	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
8	lives	live	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	hair	hair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a louse | a tiny insect |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **live** | present | a tiny insect |  |  | hair |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in hair=Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum combed my hair to get rid of the lice.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:louse:x3:1
# text = Mum combed my hair to get rid of the lice.
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	combed	comb	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	hair	hair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
7	rid	rid	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	lice	louse	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 | **comb** | past | Mum | my hair |  |  |  |  | vn braid-41.2.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hair=Patient |
| 2 | **get** | to-infinitive | Mum *not said here* |  |  |  |  | rid *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Lice are parasites that feed on blood.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:louse:x4:1
# text = Lice are parasites that feed on blood.
1	Lice	louse	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	parasites	parasite	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	5	nsubj	_	_
5	feed	feed	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	acl:relcl	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	blood	blood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Lice | parasites |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **feed** | present | parasites |  |  |  |  | on blood | vn gorge-39.6 «NP V PP.patient»: agent=Agent on blood=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«You louse! You stole my sweets!»

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* «You louse!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:louse:x5:1
# text = «You louse!
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	louse	louse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* You stole my sweets!»

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:louse:x5:2
# text = You stole my sweets!»
1	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	stole	steal	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	sweets	sweet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **steal** | past | You | my sweets |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location sweet=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't louse up the plan by being late.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:louse:x6:1
# text = Don't louse up the plan by being late.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	louse	louse	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	up	up	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	plan	plan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
8	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	9	cop	_	_
9	late	late	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **louse up** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | the plan |  |  |  |  | vn destroy-44 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent plan=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | gerund | the plan *not said here* |  |  |  |  | late *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In history, soldiers in the trenches suffered from lice.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:louse:x7:1
# text = In history, soldiers in the trenches suffered from lice.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	history	history	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	soldiers	soldier	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	trenches	trench	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
8	suffered	suffer	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	from	from	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	lice	louse	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **suffer** | past | soldiers in the trenches |  |  | history |  | from lice | vn marvel-31.3 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |

<!-- 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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