---
title: missionary — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «missionary» in the school dictionary: A missionary is a person sent by a church or religion to another place to spread their faith, and often to run schools, hospitals or help people in need. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# missionary

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** missionary, missionary zeal, St Patrick, David, aunt, missionaries · **What happens:** be, send, spread, run, help, describe · **To what, where:** person, place, faith, schools, people, need · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A missionary is a person sent by a church or religion to another place to spread their faith, and often to run schools, hospitals or help people in need.

<!-- fold The tree, 29 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:missionary:m1:1
# text = A missionary is a person sent by a church or religion to another place to spread their faith, and often to run schools, hospitals or help people in need.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	missionary	missionary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	sent	send	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	_
7	by	by	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	church	church	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	religion	religion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	_
12	to	to	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	14	det	_	_
14	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
15	to	to	PART	TO	_	16	mark	_	_
16	spread	spread	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
17	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	18	nmod:poss	_	_
18	faith	faith	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
20	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	23	cc	_	_
21	often	often	ADV	RB	_	23	advmod	_	_
22	to	to	PART	TO	_	23	mark	_	_
23	run	run	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
24	schools	school	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	23	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	26	punct	_	_
26	hospitals	hospital	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	24	conj	_	_
27	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	28	cc	_	_
28	help	help	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	23	conj	_	_
29	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	28	obj	_	_
30	in	in	ADP	IN	_	31	case	_	_
31	need	need	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	29	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
32	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a missionary | a person |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **send** | participle |  | a person *not said here* |  | another place |  | by a church or religion | vn confine-92-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent to place=Destination |
| 3 | **spread** | to-infinitive |  | church's faith |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location faith=Theme |
| 4 | **run** | to-infinitive |  | schools and hospitals |  |  |  | often *property* | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme school=Trajectory |
| 5 | **help** | present |  |  | people | need |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent people=Beneficiary |

<!-- .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 -->
Missionary describes this work: missionary work, a missionary school.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:missionary:m2:1
# text = Missionary describes this work: missionary work, a missionary school.
1	Missionary	Missionary	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	describes	describe	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	4	det	_	_
4	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
6	missionary	missionary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	missionary	missionary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **describe** | present | Missionary | this work |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent work=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
With missionary zeal means with very strong, eager belief in an idea.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:missionary:m3:1
# text = With missionary zeal means with very strong, eager belief in an idea.
1	With	with	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	missionary	missionary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	zeal	zeal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
6	very	very	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
9	eager	eager	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	belief	belief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | missionary zeal |  |  |  |  | with strong eager belief in a idea | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
St Patrick was a missionary in Ireland.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:missionary:x1:1
# text = St Patrick was a missionary in Ireland.
1	St	St	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	flat	_	_
2	Patrick	Patrick	PROPN	NNP	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	missionary	missionary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	Ireland	Ireland	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | St Patrick | a missionary |  | Ireland |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
David Livingstone was a Scottish missionary and explorer in Africa.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:missionary:x2:1
# text = David Livingstone was a Scottish missionary and explorer in Africa.
1	David	David	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
2	Livingstone	Livingstone	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	flat	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	Scottish	Scottish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	missionary	missionary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	explorer	explorer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	Africa	Africa	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | David | a Scottish missionary and explorer |  | Africa |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her aunt does missionary work at a hospital in Uganda.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:missionary:x3:1
# text = Her aunt does missionary work at a hospital in Uganda.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	aunt	aunt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	missionary	missionary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	work	work	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	hospital	hospital	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	Uganda	Uganda	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **work** | present · do-support | Her aunt |  |  |  |  | at a hospital in Uganda | vn employment-95.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent at hospital=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The missionaries started a school in the village.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:missionary:x4:1
# text = The missionaries started a school in the village.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	missionaries	missionary	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	started	start	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	village	village	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **start** | past | the missionaries | a school |  | the village |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent school=Eventuality |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Christians believe Jesus sent his followers out as missionaries.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:missionary:x5:1
# text = Christians believe Jesus sent his followers out as missionaries.
1	Christians	Christian	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	believe	believe	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	Jesus	Jesus	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	sent	send	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	_
5	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	followers	follower	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
7	out	out	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
8	as	as	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	missionaries	missionary	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **believe** | present | Christians |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 2 | **send out** | past | Jesus | Jesus's followers |  |  |  | as missionaries; out *property* | vn confine-92-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent follower=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He talked about recycling with missionary zeal.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:missionary:x6:1
# text = He talked about recycling with missionary zeal.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	talked	talk	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	about	about	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
4	recycling	recycle	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	missionary	missionary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	zeal	zeal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **talk** | past | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **recycle** | gerund | He *not said here* |  |  |  |  | with missionary zeal | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The sisters were savages who had never seen a missionary.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:missionary:x7:1
# text = The sisters were savages who had never seen a missionary.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sisters	sister	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	savages	savage	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
5	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
6	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
7	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
8	seen	see	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	4	acl:relcl	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	missionary	missionary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the sisters | savages |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **see** | past · perfect | savages | a missionary |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer missionary=Stimulus |

<!-- 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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