---
title: matriarch — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «matriarch» in the school dictionary: A matriarch is a woman who is the head of a family or group, often the oldest and most respected. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# matriarch

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**Who acts:** matriarch, woman, old female, Granny, Everyone, matriarchs · **What happens:** be, respect, lead, listen, know, rule · **To what, where:** woman, head, old female, animal groups, herd, elephants

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A matriarch is a woman who is the head of a family or group, often the oldest and most respected.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:matriarch:m1:1
# text = A matriarch is a woman who is the head of a family or group, often the oldest and most respected.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	matriarch	matriarch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	woman	woman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	appos	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
16	often	often	ADV	RB	_	18	advmod	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	oldest	old	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	5	parataxis	_	_
19	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
20	most	most	ADV	RBS	Degree=Sup	21	advmod	_	_
21	respected	respect	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	18	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a matriarch | a woman |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | present | a woman | the head or group |  |  |  | of a family | tree rules |
| 3 | **respect** | participle | a matriarch *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer |

<!-- .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 -->
In animal groups like elephants, the matriarch is the old female who leads the herd.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:matriarch:m2:1
# text = In animal groups like elephants, the matriarch is the old female who leads the herd.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	groups	group	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obl	_	_
4	like	like	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	elephants	elephant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	matriarch	matriarch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	female	female	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
13	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	14	nsubj	_	_
14	leads	lead	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	acl:relcl	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	herd	herd	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the matriarch | the old female |  | animal groups like elephants |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **lead** | present | the old female | the herd |  |  |  |  | vn accompany-51.7 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent herd=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The matriarch led the elephants to the waterhole.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:matriarch:x1:1
# text = The matriarch led the elephants to the waterhole.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	matriarch	matriarch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	led	lead	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	elephants	elephant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	waterhole	waterhole	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 | **lead** | past | the matriarch | the elephants |  | the waterhole |  |  | vn accompany-51.7 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent elephant=Theme to waterhole=Destination |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Granny is the matriarch of our family.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:matriarch:x2:1
# text = Granny is the matriarch of our family.
1	Granny	Granny	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	matriarch	matriarch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Granny | the matriarch |  |  |  | of our family | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Everyone listened to the matriarch's advice.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:matriarch:x3:1
# text = Everyone listened to the matriarch's advice.
1	Everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	2	nsubj	_	_
2	listened	listen	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	matriarch	matriarch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	's	's	PART	POS	_	5	case	_	_
7	advice	advice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **listen** | past | Everyone |  |  |  |  | to the matriarch's advice | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent to advice=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Killer whale pods are led by matriarchs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:matriarch:x4:1
# text = Killer whale pods are led by matriarchs.
1	Killer	killer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	whale	whale	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	pods	pod	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	led	lead	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	by	by	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	matriarchs	matriarch	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lead** | present · passive | matriarchs | whale pods |  |  |  |  | vn accompany-51.7 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent subject=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The old matriarch knew every path in the forest.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:matriarch:x5:1
# text = The old matriarch knew every path in the forest.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	matriarch	matriarch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	knew	know	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	6	det	_	_
6	path	path	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	forest	forest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **know** | past | the old matriarch | every path |  | the forest |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer path=Stimulus |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the story, the matriarch ruled the family business.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:matriarch:x6:1
# text = In the story, the matriarch ruled the family business.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	matriarch	matriarch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	ruled	rule	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	business	business	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **rule** | past | the matriarch | the family business |  | the story |  |  | vn dub-29.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent business=Theme |

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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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