---
title: meanness — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «meanness» in the school dictionary: Meanness is being unkind or nasty to others. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# meanness

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Meanness, little ones, Scrooge, We, Kindness, poor husband · **What happens:** be, not want, share, spend, make, cry · **To what, where:** money, everything, feelings, drink, anyone, cure · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«meanness» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [meanness in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/meanness.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Meanness is being unkind or nasty to others.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meanness:m1:1
# text = Meanness is being unkind or nasty to others.
1	Meanness	meanness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	cop	_	_
4	unkind	unkind	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	nasty	nasty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Meanness |  |  |  |  | unkind *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | Meanness *not said here* |  |  |  |  | to others | tree rules |

<!-- .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 -->
Meanness is not wanting to share or spend money; being stingy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meanness:m2:1
# text = Meanness is not wanting to share or spend money; being stingy.
1	Meanness	meanness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	wanting	want	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	share	share	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	spend	spend	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	conj	_	_
9	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
11	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	12	cop	_	_
12	stingy	stingy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **want** | present · progressive | Meanness |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 2 | **share** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | Meanness *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **spend** | infinitive | Meanness *not said here* | money |  |  |  |  | vn consume-66-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent money=Asset |
| 4 | **is** | gerund | Meanness *not said here* |  |  |  |  | stingy *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The bully's meanness made the little ones cry.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meanness:x1:1
# text = The bully's meanness made the little ones cry.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	bully	bully	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	meanness	meanness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	ones	one	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
9	cry	cry	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | the bully's meanness |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **cry** *speech: express* | present | the little ones |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scrooge was famous for his meanness with money.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meanness:x2:1
# text = Scrooge was famous for his meanness with money.
1	Scrooge	scrooge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	famous	famous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	for	for	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	meanness	meanness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | Scrooge |  |  |  |  | for his meanness with money; famous *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There was no meanness in her; she shared everything.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meanness:x3:1
# text = There was no meanness in her; she shared everything.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	was	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	4	det	_	_
4	meanness	meanness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	shared	share	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
10	everything	everything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | past | no meanness in her |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **share** | past | meanness | everything |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We talked about how meanness hurts feelings.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meanness:x4:1
# text = We talked about how meanness hurts feelings.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	talked	talk	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	about	about	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
4	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	6	advmod	_	_
5	meanness	meanness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	hurts	hurt	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	_
7	feelings	feeling	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **talk** | past | We |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **hurt** | present | meanness | feelings |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer feeling=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His meanness meant he never bought anyone a drink.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meanness:x5:1
# text = His meanness meant he never bought anyone a drink.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	meanness	meanness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	meant	mean	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
5	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	6	advmod	_	_
6	bought	buy	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
7	anyone	anyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	obj	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	drink	drink	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | past | His meanness |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **not** **buy** | past | meanness | a drink | anyone |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP.beneficiary NP»: agent=Agent anyone=Beneficiary drink=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Kindness is the cure for meanness.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meanness:x6:1
# text = Kindness is the cure for meanness.
1	Kindness	kindness	NOUN	NN	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	cure	cure	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	meanness	meanness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Kindness | the cure |  |  |  | for meanness | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Many a time her poor husband regretted the day that he had first seen her, and often her meanness and shabby ways put him to shame.

<!-- fold The tree, 26 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meanness:x7:1
# text = Many a time her poor husband regretted the day that he had first seen her, and often her meanness and shabby ways put him to shame.
1	Many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl:unmarked	_	_
4	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
5	poor	poor	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	husband	husband	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	regretted	regret	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl:unmarked	_	_
10	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
11	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
12	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	14	aux	_	_
13	first	first	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	14	advmod	_	_
14	seen	see	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	7	advcl	_	_
15	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	24	punct	_	_
17	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
18	often	often	ADV	RB	_	24	advmod	_	_
19	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	20	nmod:poss	_	_
20	meanness	meanness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	nsubj	_	_
21	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	23	cc	_	_
22	shabby	shabby	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	23	amod	_	_
23	ways	way	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	conj	_	_
24	put	put	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	_
25	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	24	obj	_	_
26	to	to	PART	TO	_	27	mark	_	_
27	shame	shame	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	24	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **regret** | past | her poor husband |  |  |  | day; time |  | vn admire-31.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **see** | past · perfect | husband | her *= she* |  |  |  | first *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer she=Stimulus |
| 3 | **put** | past | her meanness and shabby ways |  | husband |  |  | often *property* | vn invest-13.5.4-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent he=Goal |
| 4 | **shame** | to-infinitive | her meanness and shabby ways *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |

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