---
title: millstone — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «millstone» in the school dictionary: A millstone is one of a pair of large, round, flat stones used in a mill to grind grain into flour. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# millstone

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** millstone, you, river, wheel, debt, Jesus · **What happens:** be, use, grind, not get, turn, speak · **To what, where:** one, large round flat stones, mill, grain, flour, heavy problem · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A millstone is one of a pair of large, round, flat stones used in a mill to grind grain into flour.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:millstone:m1:1
# text = A millstone is one of a pair of large, round, flat stones used in a mill to grind grain into flour.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	millstone	millstone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	pair	pair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
9	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
11	round	round	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
13	flat	flat	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	stones	stone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	_
15	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	14	acl	_	_
16	in	in	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	mill	mill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	_
19	to	to	PART	TO	_	20	mark	_	_
20	grind	grind	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	advcl	_	_
21	grain	grain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	obj	_	_
22	into	into	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
23	flour	flour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a millstone | one |  |  |  | of a pair of large round flat stones | tree rules |
| 2 | **use** | participle |  | large round flat stones *not said here* |  | a mill |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **grind** | to-infinitive |  | grain |  | flour |  |  | vn build-26.1 «NP V NP.material PP.product»: agent=Agent grain=Material into flour=Product |

<!-- .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 -->
A millstone (round your neck) is a heavy problem or responsibility you can't get rid of.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:millstone:m2:1
# text = A millstone (round your neck) is a heavy problem or responsibility you can't get rid of.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	millstone	millstone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
3	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	round	round	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	neck	neck	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	6	punct	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	heavy	heavy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	problem	problem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	responsibility	responsibility	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	_
14	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	17	nsubj	_	_
15	ca	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	17	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	17	advmod	_	_
17	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	parataxis	_	_
18	rid	rid	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	xcomp	_	_
19	of	of	ADP	IN	_	18	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a millstone | a heavy problem or responsibility |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **get** | can | you |  |  |  |  | rid *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The millstone turned slowly and ground the wheat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:millstone:x1:1
# text = The millstone turned slowly and ground the wheat.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	millstone	millstone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	turned	turn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	slowly	slowly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	ground	ground	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	wheat	wheat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **turn** | past | the millstone | the wheat |  |  |  | slowly *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent wheat=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Old millstones are sometimes used in gardens.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:millstone:x2:1
# text = Old millstones are sometimes used in gardens.
1	Old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	millstones	millstone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
4	sometimes	sometimes	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	5	advmod	_	_
5	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	gardens	garden	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present · passive |  | Old millstones |  | gardens |  | sometimes *property* | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The river turned the wheel that turned the millstone.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:millstone:x3:1
# text = The river turned the wheel that turned the millstone.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	river	river	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	turned	turn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	wheel	wheel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	turned	turn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	millstone	millstone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **turn** | past | the river | the wheel |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent wheel=Theme |
| 2 | **turn** | past | the wheel | the millstone |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent millstone=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The debt was a millstone round his neck.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:millstone:x4:1
# text = The debt was a millstone round his neck.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	debt	debt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	millstone	millstone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	round	round	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	neck	neck	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the debt | a millstone |  |  |  | round his neck | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A millstone is very heavy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:millstone:x5:1
# text = A millstone is very heavy.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	millstone	millstone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	very	very	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	heavy	heavy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Jesus spoke of a millstone in one of his warnings in the Gospels.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:millstone:x6:1
# text = Jesus spoke of a millstone in one of his warnings in the Gospels.
1	Jesus	Jesus	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	spoke	speak	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	millstone	millstone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	2	obl	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	warnings	warning	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	Gospels	Gospel	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **speak** *speech: other* | past | Jesus |  |  |  |  | of a millstone; in one of Jesus's warnings in the Gospels | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **warn** |  | Jesus |  |  | the Gospels |  |  | nom warning «communication transitive»: poss=agent in=place |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Four millstones formed his shield, and on a box-tree close by hung his giant sword.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:millstone:x7:1
# text = Four millstones formed his shield, and on a box-tree close by hung his giant sword.
1	Four	four	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	2	nummod	_	_
2	millstones	millstone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	formed	form	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	shield	shield	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
10	box	box	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	_
13	close	close	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	parataxis	_	_
14	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
15	hung	hang	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	13	advcl	_	_
16	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	18	nmod:poss	_	_
17	giant	giant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	sword	sword	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **form** | past | Four millstones | his shield |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location shield=Theme |
| 2 | **hang** | gerund | Four millstones *not said here* | his giant sword |  |  |  |  | vn poison-42.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sword=Patient |

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