---
title: meek — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «meek» in the school dictionary: Quiet, gentle and patient; not easily angry and not wanting to argue. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# meek

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** others, Jesus, they, Christians, meek little mouse, He · **What happens:** not want, argue, do, say, be, inherit · **To what, where:** earth, meekness, thank, meek man, idea, teacher · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«meek» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [meek in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/meek.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Quiet, gentle and patient; not easily angry and not wanting to argue.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meek:m1:1
# text = Quiet, gentle and patient; not easily angry and not wanting to argue.
1	Quiet	quiet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
3	gentle	gentle	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	patient	patient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
8	easily	easily	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	angry	angry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	12	advmod	_	_
12	wanting	want	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	9	conj	_	_
13	to	to	PART	TO	_	14	mark	_	_
14	argue	argue	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **want** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 2 | **argue** *speech: disagree* *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Too quiet and ready to do what others say: «meek and timid».

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meek:m2:1
# text = Too quiet and ready to do what others say: «meek and timid».
1	Too	too	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	quiet	quiet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	ready	ready	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	9	obj	_	_
8	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
9	say	say	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
11	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	meek	meek	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	ccomp	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	timid	timid	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | others |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent what=Topic |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Jesus said «Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth»; Christians see meekness as gentle strength, not weakness.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meek:m3:1
# text = Jesus said «Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth»; Christians see meekness as gentle strength, not weakness.
1	Jesus	Jesus	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	Blessed	bless	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	ccomp	_	_
5	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	meek	meek	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
9	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
10	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
11	shall	shall	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	_
12	inherit	inherit	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	earth	earth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
17	Christians	Christian	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	18	nsubj	_	_
18	see	see	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
19	meekness	meekness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obj	_	_
20	as	as	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
21	gentle	gentle	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	22	amod	_	_
22	strength	strength	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	25	punct	_	_
24	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	25	advmod	_	_
25	weakness	weakness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | Jesus |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **is** *in a quote* | present |  |  |  |  |  | the meek *obl*; bless *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **inherit** *in a quote* | shall | they | the earth |  |  |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent earth=Theme |
| 4 | **see** | present | Christians | meekness |  |  |  | as gentle strength and weakness | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer meekness=Stimulus as strength=Attribute |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.»

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meek:x1:1
# text = «Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.»
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Blessed	bless	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	meek	meek	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
7	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
8	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
9	shall	shall	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	inherit	inherit	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	earth	earth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** *in a quote* | present |  |  |  |  |  | the meek *obl*; bless *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **inherit** *in a quote* | shall | they | the earth |  |  |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent earth=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The meek little mouse squeaked a thank you.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meek:x2:1
# text = The meek little mouse squeaked a thank you.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	meek	meek	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	mouse	mouse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	squeaked	squeak	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	thank	thank	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **squeak** | past | the meek little mouse | a thank |  |  |  |  | vn animal\_sounds-38 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent thank=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He meekly said sorry and sat down.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meek:x3:1
# text = He meekly said sorry and sat down.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	meekly	meekly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	sorry	sorry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	sat	sit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
7	down	down	ADP	RP	_	6	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: apologize* | past | He |  |  |  |  | meekly, sorry *property* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **sit down** | past | He *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She seemed meek, but she stood up to the bully.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meek:x4:1
# text = She seemed meek, but she stood up to the bully.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	seemed	seem	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	meek	meek	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
5	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
6	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	stood	stand	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
8	up	up	ADP	RP	_	7	compound:prt	_	_
9	to	to	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	bully	bully	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **seem** | past | She |  |  |  |  | meek *property* | vn seem-109-1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **stand up** | past | she |  |  |  |  | to the bully | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Moses was a very meek man, the Bible says.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meek:x5:1
# text = Moses was a very meek man, the Bible says.
1	Moses	Moses	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
4	very	very	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	meek	meek	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	Bible	Bible	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
10	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | Moses | a meek man |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | the Bible | a meek man *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent man=Topic |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't be so meek; tell the teacher your idea!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meek:x6:1
# text = Don't be so meek; tell the teacher your idea!
1	Do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
3	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	cop	_	_
4	so	so	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	meek	meek	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	tell	tell	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **not** **is** | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | meek *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **tell** *speech: assert* | imperative | you *not said here* | your idea | the teacher |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent teacher=Recipient idea=Topic |

<!-- 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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