---
title: merlin — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «merlin» in the school dictionary: A small, fast falcon (a bird of prey) found in Europe, Asia and North America, which hunts small birds. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# merlin

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** small fast falcon, Merlin, wise wizard, We, Merlins, book · **What happens:** find, hunt, be, guide, advise, see · **To what, where:** small fast falcon, Europe, small birds, wise wizard, stories, Merlin · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«merlin» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [merlin in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/merlin.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A small, fast falcon (a bird of prey) found in Europe, Asia and North America, which hunts small birds.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:merlin:m1:1
# text = A small, fast falcon (a bird of prey) found in Europe, Asia and North America, which hunts small birds.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
2	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	fast	fast	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	falcon	falcon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	nsubj	_	_
6	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	appos	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	prey	prey	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	8	punct	_	_
12	found	find	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	Europe	Europe	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
16	Asia	Asia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	_
17	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
18	North	North	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	19	compound	_	_
19	America	America	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
21	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	22	nsubj	_	_
22	hunts	hunt	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
23	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	24	amod	_	_
24	birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	22	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	22	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **find** | participle |  | a small fast falcon *not said here* |  | Europe and Asia and North America |  |  | vn declare-29.4-1-1 «NP V what S\_INF»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **hunt** | present | a small fast falcon | small birds |  |  |  |  | vn hunt-35.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bird=Theme |

<!-- .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: a name, legend — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Merlin is the wise wizard in the stories of King Arthur, who guided and advised him.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:merlin:m2:1
# text = Merlin is the wise wizard in the stories of King Arthur, who guided and advised him.
1	Merlin	Merlin	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	wise	wise	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	wizard	wizard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	stories	story	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	King	King	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	Arthur	Arthur	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
13	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	14	nsubj	_	_
14	guided	guide	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	advised	advise	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	14	conj	_	_
17	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	16	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Merlin | the wise wizard |  | the stories of King Arthur |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **guide** | past | the wise wizard |  |  |  |  |  | vn accompany-51.7 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **advise** *speech: other* | past | the wise wizard *not said here* |  | Merlin |  |  |  | vn advise-37.9-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent he=Recipient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A merlin is a small, fast falcon.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:merlin:x1:1
# text = A merlin is a small, fast falcon.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	merlin	merlin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
5	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	fast	fast	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	falcon	falcon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a merlin | a small fast falcon |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We saw a merlin chasing a pipit over the moor.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:merlin:x2:1
# text = We saw a merlin chasing a pipit over the moor.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	saw	see	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	merlin	merlin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	chasing	chase	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	acl	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	pipit	pipit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	over	over	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	moor	moor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **see** | past | We | a merlin |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer merlin=Stimulus |
| 2 | **chase** | gerund | a merlin *not said here* | a pipit |  | the moor |  |  | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent pipit=Theme over moor=Trajectory |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Merlin the wizard helped young Arthur.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:merlin:x3:1
# text = Merlin the wizard helped young Arthur.
1	Merlin	Merlin	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	wizard	wizard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	appos	_	_
4	helped	help	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	young	young	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	Arthur	Arthur	PROPN	NNP	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 | **help** | past | Merlin |  | young Arthur |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent arthur=Beneficiary |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In some stories Merlin lives backwards in time.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:merlin:x4:1
# text = In some stories Merlin lives backwards in time.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	3	det	_	_
3	stories	story	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	_
4	Merlin	Merlin	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	lives	live	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	backwards	backwards	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** | present | Merlin |  |  | some stories | time | backwards *property* | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in story=Location |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Merlins nest on the ground in heather.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:merlin:x5:1
# text = Merlins nest on the ground in heather.
1	Merlins	merlin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	nest	nest	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	ground	ground	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	heather	heather	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 | **nest** | present | Merlins |  |  | the ground |  | in heather | vn berry-13.7 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The book tells how Merlin brought the stones of Stonehenge – but that is a legend, not history.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:merlin:x6:1
# text = The book tells how Merlin brought the stones of Stonehenge – but that is a legend, not history.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	tells	tell	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	6	advmod	_	_
5	Merlin	Merlin	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	brought	bring	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	stones	stone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	Stonehenge	Stonehenge	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	_
11	–	-	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
12	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
13	that	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	16	nsubj	_	_
14	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	cop	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	legend	legend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
18	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	19	advmod	_	_
19	history	history	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | present | the book |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **bring** | past | Merlin | the stones of Stonehenge |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3-1 «NP V NP together»: agent=Agent stone=Theme |
| 3 | **is a** | present | that | a legend and history |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A merlin is smaller than a kestrel.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:merlin:x7:1
# text = A merlin is smaller than a kestrel.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	merlin	merlin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	smaller	small	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	0	root	_	_
5	than	than	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	kestrel	kestrel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a merlin |  |  |  |  | than a kestrel; small *property* | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Merlin is often drawn with a long beard and a pointed hat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:merlin:x8:1
# text = Merlin is often drawn with a long beard and a pointed hat.
1	Merlin	Merlin	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
3	often	often	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	drawn	draw	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	beard	beard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	pointed	pointed	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	hat	hat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **draw** | present · passive |  | Merlin |  |  |  | with a long beard and a pointed hat; often *property* | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
‘But, Princess,’ said he, ‘I dare not take you back to King Merlin’s court.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:merlin:x9:1
# text = ‘But, Princess,’ said he, ‘I dare not take you back to King Merlin’s court.
1	‘	'	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	But	but	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	Princess	Princess	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	’	'	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
7	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
10	‘	'	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
12	dare	dare	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	aux	_	_
13	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	12	advmod	_	_
14	take	take	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	ccomp	_	_
15	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	14	obj	_	_
16	back	back	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
17	to	to	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
18	King	King	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	21	nmod:poss	_	_
19	Merlin	Merlin	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	18	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	’s	's	PART	POS	_	18	case	_	_
21	court	court	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | Princess |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **take** | present | I |  | you |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP ADVP»: agent=Instrument you=Destination |

<!-- 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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