---
title: misuse — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «misuse» in the school dictionary: Verb: to use something in a wrong, careless or harmful way. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# misuse

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Verb, Misuse, you, scissors, Drug misuse, He · **What happens:** use, misuse, treat, get, not misuse, be · **To what, where:** something, wrong way, medicine, power, someone, you · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Verb: to use something in a wrong, careless or harmful way.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:misuse:m1:1
# text = Verb: to use something in a wrong, careless or harmful way.
1	Verb	verb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	4	punct	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	use	use	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
8	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	careless	careless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	conj	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	harmful	harmful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	conj	_	_
13	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | to-infinitive | Verb | something |  | a wrong way |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Patient |

<!-- .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 -->
Noun: wrong or harmful use: misuse of medicine, misuse of power.

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:misuse:m2:1
# text = Noun: wrong or harmful use: misuse of medicine, misuse of power.
1	Noun	noun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	6	punct	_	_
3	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	harmful	harmful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	_
6	use	use	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
8	misuse	misuse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	medicine	medicine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	misuse	misuse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	_
13	of	of	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	power	power	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **misuse** |  |  | medicine |  |  |  |  | nom misuse «act transitive»: of=patient |
| 2 | **misuse** |  |  | power |  |  |  |  | nom misuse «act transitive»: of=patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Verb: to treat someone badly or unfairly (old-fashioned).

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:misuse:m3:1
# text = Verb: to treat someone badly or unfairly (old-fashioned).
1	Verb	verb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	4	punct	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	treat	treat	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	obj	_	_
6	badly	badly	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	4	advmod	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	unfairly	unfairly	ADV	RB	_	6	conj	_	_
9	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	fashioned	fashioned	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **treat** | to-infinitive | Verb |  | someone |  |  | badly *property* | vn equip-13.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent someone=Recipient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Misuse of the fire alarm can get you into big trouble.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:misuse:x1:1
# text = Misuse of the fire alarm can get you into big trouble.
1	Misuse	misuse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	fire	fire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	alarm	alarm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
6	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
8	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	into	into	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	trouble	trouble	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | can | Misuse of the fire alarm | you |  | big trouble |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer you=Stimulus |
| 2 | **misuse** |  |  | the fire alarm |  |  |  |  | nom misuse «act transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't misuse the scissors — they are for paper only.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:misuse:x2:1
# text = Don't misuse the scissors — they are for paper only.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	misuse	misuse	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	scissors	scissors	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
7	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
8	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	paper	paper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
11	only	only	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **misuse** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | the scissors |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | scissors |  |  |  |  | for paper | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Drug misuse harms health.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:misuse:x3:1
# text = Drug misuse harms health.
1	Drug	drug	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	misuse	misuse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	harms	harm	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	health	health	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **harm** | present | Drug misuse | health |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus health=Experiencer |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He misused the word «literally».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:misuse:x4:1
# text = He misused the word «literally».
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	misused	misuse	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	literally	literally	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **misuse** | past | He | the word |  |  |  | literally *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Calling 999 for a joke is a misuse of the emergency line.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:misuse:x5:1
# text = Calling 999 for a joke is a misuse of the emergency line.
1	Calling	call	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	csubj	_	_
2	999	999	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	1	obj	_	_
3	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	joke	joke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	misuse	misuse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	emergency	emergency	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	line	line	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | gerund |  | 999 |  |  |  | for a joke | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent 999=Theme for joke=Beneficiary |
| 2 | **is a** | present | Calling | a misuse |  |  |  | of the emergency line | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The manager was sacked for misuse of company money.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:misuse:x6:1
# text = The manager was sacked for misuse of company money.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	manager	manager	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	sacked	sack	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	misuse	misuse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	company	company	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sack** | past · passive |  | the manager |  |  |  | for misuse of company money | vn fire-10.10 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |
| 2 | **misuse** |  |  | company money |  |  |  |  | nom misuse «act transitive»: of=patient |

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**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.

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