---
title: madness — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «madness» in the school dictionary: Very foolish or dangerous behaviour. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/madness/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [M](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/) / madness

# madness

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** madness, dogs, It, shops, waves, method · **What happens:** be, spread, swim, shout, rise, work · **To what, where:** name, old tales, madness, storm, madness cycle, motorway · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«madness» in the school dictionary: its 5 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: [madness in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/madness.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Very foolish or dangerous behaviour.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:madness:m1:1
# text = Very foolish or dangerous behaviour.
1	Very	very	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	foolish	foolish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
4	dangerous	dangerous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	behaviour	behaviour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It would be madness to swim in that storm.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:madness:m1e:1
# text = It would be madness to swim in that storm.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	cop	_	_
4	madness	madness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	swim	swim	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	acl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	9	det	_	_
9	storm	storm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | would | It | madness |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **swim** | to-infinitive |  |  |  | that storm |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in storm=Trajectory |

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Serious mental illness.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:madness:m2:1
# text = Serious mental illness.
1	Serious	serious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
2	mental	mental	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	illness	illness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Wild excitement or confusion: the madness of the January sales.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:madness:m3:1
# text = Wild excitement or confusion: the madness of the January sales.
1	Wild	wild	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	excitement	excitement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	confusion	confusion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	madness	madness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	January	January	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	sales	sale	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Great anger (old use).

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:madness:m4:1
# text = Great anger (old use).
1	Great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	anger	anger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	use	use	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 5 {#m5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In old tales, madness can also be a name for rabies, a deadly illness of dogs that can spread to people.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:madness:m5:1
# text = In old tales, madness can also be a name for rabies, a deadly illness of dogs that can spread to people.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	tales	tale	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	madness	madness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
6	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
7	also	also	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
8	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	cop	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
11	for	for	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	rabies	rabies	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	deadly	deadly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	illness	illness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	appos	_	_
17	of	of	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
18	dogs	dog	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	nmod	_	_
19	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	21	nsubj	_	_
20	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	21	aux	_	_
21	spread	spread	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	18	acl:relcl	_	_
22	to	to	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
23	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	21	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | can | madness | a name |  | old tales |  | for rabies | tree rules |
| 2 | **spread** | can | dogs |  |  |  |  | to people | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It's madness to cycle on the motorway.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:madness:x1:1
# text = It's madness to cycle on the motorway.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	madness	madness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	cycle	cycle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	motorway	motorway	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | It | madness cycle |  | the motorway |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The shops were pure madness before the holidays.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:madness:x2:1
# text = The shops were pure madness before the holidays.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	shops	shop	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	pure	pure	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	madness	madness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	before	before	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	holidays	holiday	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the shops | pure madness |  |  | before the holidays |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«This is madness!» shouted the captain as the waves rose.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:madness:x3:1
# text = «This is madness!» shouted the captain as the waves rose.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	This	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	4	det	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	madness	madness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
7	shouted	shout	VERB	VBD	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	captain	captain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	waves	wave	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	nsubj	_	_
13	rose	rise	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** *in a quote* | present |  | this madness |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **shout** *speech: express* | past | this madness | the captain |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent captain=Topic |
| 3 | **rise** | past | the waves |  |  |  |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There's method in his madness — his odd plan worked.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:madness:x4:1
# text = There's method in his madness — his odd plan worked.
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	method	method	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	madness	madness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
8	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
9	odd	odd	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	plan	plan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
11	worked	work	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | present | method |  |  | method's madness; there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in madness=Location |
| 2 | **work** | past | method's odd plan | method's madness *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn knead-26.5 «NP V NP.material»: agent=Agent madness=Material |
| 3 | **plan** |  | method |  |  |  |  |  | nom plan «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The madness of the crowd scared the little boy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:madness:x5:1
# text = The madness of the crowd scared the little boy.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	madness	madness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	crowd	crowd	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	scared	scare	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **scare** | past | the madness of the crowd | the little boy |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus boy=Experiencer |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Leaving the gate open with the dog outside was madness.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:madness:x6:1
# text = Leaving the gate open with the dog outside was madness.
1	Leaving	leave	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	csubj	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	gate	gate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	open	open	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	xcomp	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
8	outside	outside	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
9	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	madness	madness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **leave** | gerund |  | the gate |  |  |  | with the dog; open, outside *property* | vn fulfilling-13.4.1 «NP V NP-Fulfilling PP.theme»: agent=Agent gate=Recipient with dog=Theme |
| 2 | **is a** | past | Leaving | madness |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We call it hydrophobia, but they call it dewanee--the madness--and run.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:madness:x7:1
# text = We call it hydrophobia, but they call it dewanee--the madness--and run.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	call	call	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	obj	_	_
4	hydrophobia	hydrophobia	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	call	call	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	_
10	dewanee	dewanee	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	--	--	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	madness	madness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	--	--	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	run	run	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | present | We | it |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent it=Recipient |
| 2 | **call** | present | they | hydrophobia |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent it=Recipient |
| 3 | **run** | infinitive | We *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [madman](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/madman/)
- next →: [mag](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mag/)
- ↑ back to [M in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/)