---
title: maul — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «maul» in the school dictionary: To attack and hurt badly with claws and teeth, as a bear or big cat might. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# maul

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** toddler, players, player, heavy hammer, bear, you · **What happens:** attack, hurt, handle, maul, beat, criticise · **To what, where:** something, cake, team, player, ball, wood

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To attack and hurt badly with claws and teeth, as a bear or big cat might.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maul:m1:1
# text = To attack and hurt badly with claws and teeth, as a bear or big cat might.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	attack	attack	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	hurt	hurt	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
5	badly	badly	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	2	advmod	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	claws	claw	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	teeth	tooth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
11	as	as	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	bear	bear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
15	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	_
17	might	might	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **attack** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | with claws and teeth and a bear or big cat; badly *property* | vn attack-60.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **hurt** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: 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 -->
To handle something or someone roughly: the toddler mauled the cake.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maul:m2:1
# text = To handle something or someone roughly: the toddler mauled the cake.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	handle	handle	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	advcl	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	conj	_	_
6	roughly	roughly	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	toddler	toddler	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
10	mauled	maul	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	cake	cake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **handle** | to-infinitive | the toddler *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn hold-15.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Theme |
| 2 | **maul** | past | the toddler | the cake |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To beat a team or person very heavily, or to criticise strongly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maul:m3:1
# text = To beat a team or person very heavily, or to criticise strongly.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	beat	beat	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	advcl	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
7	very	very	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	heavily	heavily	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	criticise	criticise	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
13	strongly	strongly	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **beat** | to-infinitive |  | a team or person |  |  |  | heavily *property* | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location team=Theme |
| 2 | **criticise** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | strongly *property* | tree rules |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: noun, rugby — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A group of players pushing together around the player holding the ball.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maul:m4:1
# text = A group of players pushing together around the player holding the ball.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	players	player	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
5	pushing	push	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	acl	_	_
6	together	together	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
7	around	around	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	player	player	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
10	holding	hold	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	9	acl	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	ball	ball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **push together** | gerund | players *not said here* |  |  | the player |  | together *property* | vn push-12-1-1 «NP V PP.trajectory»: agent=Agent around player=Trajectory |
| 2 | **hold** | gerund | the player *not said here* | the ball |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent ball=Theme |

## Meaning 5 {#m5}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A heavy hammer for splitting wood.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maul:m5:1
# text = A heavy hammer for splitting wood.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	heavy	heavy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	hammer	hammer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
5	splitting	split	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	acl	_	_
6	wood	wood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **split** | gerund | a heavy hammer *not said here* | wood |  |  |  |  | vn break-45.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent wood=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The hiker was mauled by a bear but survived.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maul:x1:1
# text = The hiker was mauled by a bear but survived.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	hiker	hiker	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	mauled	maul	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	bear	bear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	survived	survive	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **maul** | past · passive | a bear | the hiker |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **survive** | past | a bear *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Never tease a dog; it might maul you.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maul:x2:1
# text = Never tease a dog; it might maul you.
1	Never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	tease	tease	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
7	might	might	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	maul	maul	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	conj	_	_
9	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **tease** | imperative | you *not said here* | a dog |  |  |  |  | vn bully-59.5 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent dog=Patient |
| 2 | **maul** | might | dog | you |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stop mauling the bread with your dirty hands!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maul:x3:1
# text = Stop mauling the bread with your dirty hands!
1	Stop	stop	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	mauling	maul	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	1	xcomp	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	bread	bread	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
7	dirty	dirty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	hands	hand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Affector clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **maul** | gerund | you *not said here* | the bread |  |  |  | with your dirty hands | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our team got mauled ten-nil.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maul:x4:1
# text = Our team got mauled ten-nil.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	got	get	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	mauled	maul	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	ten	ten	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	nil	nil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **maul** | past · passive |  | Our team |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The critics mauled the new film.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maul:x5:1
# text = The critics mauled the new film.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	critics	critic	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	mauled	maul	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **maul** | past | the critics | the new film |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The rugby players formed a maul.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maul:x6:1
# text = The rugby players formed a maul.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	rugby	rugby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	players	player	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	formed	form	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	maul	maul	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 | **form** | past | the rugby players | a maul |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location maul=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad split the logs with a maul.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maul:x7:1
# text = Dad split the logs with a maul.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	split	split	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	logs	log	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	maul	maul	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 | **split** | past | Dad | the logs |  |  |  | with a maul | vn break-45.1 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent log=Patient with maul=Instrument |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cat mauled my toy mouse.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maul:x8:1
# text = The cat mauled my toy mouse.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	mauled	maul	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
5	toy	toy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	mouse	mouse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **maul** | past | the cat | my toy mouse |  |  |  |  | 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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