---
title: meaningless — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «meaningless» in the school dictionary: Meaningless means having no meaning or no sense: a meaningless string of letters. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# meaningless

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Meaningless, Xqvzt, score, match, answer, He · **What happens:** mean, have, be, make, not keep, look · **To what, where:** meaning, purpose, meaningless jumble, practice, meaningless promise, key

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Meaningless means having no meaning or no sense: a meaningless string of letters.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meaningless:m1:1
# text = Meaningless means having no meaning or no sense: a meaningless string of letters.
1	Meaningless	meaningless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	having	have	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	5	det	_	_
5	meaning	meaning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	8	det	_	_
8	sense	sense	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	meaningless	meaningless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	string	string	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	appos	_	_
13	of	of	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	letters	letter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Meaningless |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **have** *not said to happen* | gerund | Meaningless *not said here* | no meaning or no sense |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent meaning=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 -->
Meaningless means having no purpose or importance.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meaningless:m2:1
# text = Meaningless means having no purpose or importance.
1	Meaningless	meaningless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	having	have	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	5	det	_	_
5	purpose	purpose	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	importance	importance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Meaningless |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **have** *not said to happen* | gerund | Meaningless *not said here* | no purpose or importance |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent purpose=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Xqvzt» is a meaningless jumble of letters.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meaningless:x1:1
# text = «Xqvzt» is a meaningless jumble of letters.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Xqvzt	Xqvzt	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	meaningless	meaningless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	jumble	jumble	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	letters	letter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Xqvzt | a meaningless jumble |  |  |  | of letters | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The score was meaningless because the match was only practice.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meaningless:x2:1
# text = The score was meaningless because the match was only practice.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	score	score	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	meaningless	meaningless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	match	match	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
8	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	only	only	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	practice	practice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the score |  |  |  |  | meaningless *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | past | the match | practice |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Without units, the answer 12 is meaningless.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meaningless:x3:1
# text = Without units, the answer 12 is meaningless.
1	Without	without	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	units	unit	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
6	12	12	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	flat	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	meaningless	meaningless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the answer |  |  |  |  | without units; meaningless *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He made a meaningless promise he never kept.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meaningless:x4:1
# text = He made a meaningless promise he never kept.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	meaningless	meaningless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	promise	promise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
7	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
8	kept	keep	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | He | a meaningless promise |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent promise=Product |
| 2 | **not** **keep** | past | he | a meaningless promise *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent promise=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The old code looked meaningless until we found the key.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meaningless:x5:1
# text = The old code looked meaningless until we found the key.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	code	code	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	meaningless	meaningless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	_
6	until	until	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
7	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	found	find	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	key	key	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 | **look** | past | the old code |  |  |  |  | meaningless *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **find** | past | we | the key |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent key=Topic |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A long list of facts can feel meaningless without a story.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meaningless:x6:1
# text = A long list of facts can feel meaningless without a story.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	list	list	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	facts	fact	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	_
6	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	feel	feel	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
8	meaningless	meaningless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	xcomp	_	_
9	without	without	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **feel** | can | a long list of facts |  |  |  |  | without a story; meaningless *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **list** |  |  | facts |  |  |  |  | nom list «communication transitive»: of=patient |

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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.

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