---
title: misnomer — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «misnomer» in the school dictionary: A name or word that is wrong or misleading for the thing it describes. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# misnomer

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** name, thing, Starfish, Calling, koala, Lead pencil · **What happens:** be, describe, not be, call, contain, love · **To what, where:** thing, misnomer, fish, koala, marsupial, graphite · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«misnomer» in the school dictionary: its meaning for a pupil and its 8 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: [misnomer in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/misnomer.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A name or word that is wrong or misleading for the thing it describes.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:misnomer:m1:1
# text = A name or word that is wrong or misleading for the thing it describes.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	acl:relcl	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	misleading	misleading	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	conj	_	_
10	for	for	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
14	describes	describe	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a name or word |  |  |  |  | for the thing; wrong *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | a name or word *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **describe** | present | thing | the thing *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent thing=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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Starfish» is a misnomer, because it is not a fish.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:misnomer:x1:1
# text = «Starfish» is a misnomer, because it is not a fish.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Starfish	starfish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	misnomer	misnomer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
8	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
10	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
11	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	13	advmod	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Starfish | a misnomer and a fish |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **is a** | present | Starfish | a fish |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Calling a koala a «bear» is a misnomer – it is a marsupial.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:misnomer:x2:1
# text = Calling a koala a «bear» is a misnomer – it is a marsupial.
1	Calling	call	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	csubj	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	koala	koala	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	bear	bear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	misnomer	misnomer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
11	–	-	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
12	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
13	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	cop	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	marsupial	marsupial	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | gerund |  |  | a koala |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent koala=Recipient |
| 2 | **is a** | present | Calling | a misnomer and a marsupial |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **is a** | present | koala | a marsupial |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Lead pencil» is a misnomer: pencils contain graphite.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:misnomer:x3:1
# text = «Lead pencil» is a misnomer: pencils contain graphite.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Lead	lead	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	pencil	pencil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	misnomer	misnomer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
9	pencils	pencil	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	_
10	contain	contain	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
11	graphite	graphite	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Lead pencil | a misnomer |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **contain** | present | pencils | graphite |  |  |  |  | vn comprise-107.2-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot graphite=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The «Tasmanian tiger» was a misnomer: it was a marsupial, not a cat.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:misnomer:x4:1
# text = The «Tasmanian tiger» was a misnomer: it was a marsupial, not a cat.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	Tasmanian	tasmanian	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	tiger	tiger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	misnomer	misnomer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
11	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	marsupial	marsupial	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
15	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	17	advmod	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the Tasmanian tiger | a misnomer and a marsupial |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | past | tiger | a marsupial |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Peanut is a misnomer; peanuts are legumes, like peas.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:misnomer:x5:1
# text = Peanut is a misnomer; peanuts are legumes, like peas.
1	Peanut	peanut	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	misnomer	misnomer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	peanuts	peanut	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
7	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	legumes	legume	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	like	like	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	peas	pea	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Peanut | a misnomer and legumes and peas |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | present | peanuts | legumes |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Guinea pig» is a misnomer – they are not pigs and not from Guinea.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:misnomer:x6:1
# text = «Guinea pig» is a misnomer – they are not pigs and not from Guinea.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Guinea	guinea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	pig	pig	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	misnomer	misnomer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	–	-	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
9	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
10	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
11	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	12	advmod	_	_
12	pigs	pig	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	conj	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
14	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	16	advmod	_	_
15	from	from	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	Guinea	Guinea	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Guinea pig | a misnomer and pigs and Guinea |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **is a** | present | misnomer | pigs |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The «quiet carriage» was a misnomer that day.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:misnomer:x7:1
# text = The «quiet carriage» was a misnomer that day.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	quiet	quiet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	carriage	carriage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	misnomer	misnomer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	10	det	_	_
10	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the quiet carriage | a misnomer |  |  | day |  | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our teacher loves finding misnomers in English.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:misnomer:x8:1
# text = Our teacher loves finding misnomers in English.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	loves	love	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	finding	find	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	xcomp	_	_
5	misnomers	misnomer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	English	English	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **love** | present | Our teacher |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 2 | **find** *not said to happen* | gerund | Our teacher *not said here* | misnomers |  | English |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent misnomer=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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