---
title: modesty — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «modesty» in the school dictionary: Not boasting about yourself or your skills, even when you are good. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# modesty

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, way, she, It, he, Toad · **What happens:** not boast, be, dress, behave, not draw, say · **To what, where:** way, attention, body, best player, nothing, modesty · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Not boasting about yourself or your skills, even when you are good.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:modesty:m1:1
# text = Not boasting about yourself or your skills, even when you are good.
1	Not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	boasting	boast	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
3	about	about	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	yourself	yourself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=2|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	2	obl	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
6	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	skills	skill	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
9	even	even	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
10	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	13	mark	_	_
11	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
12	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
13	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **boast** *speech: other* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | about yourself | vn complain-37.8 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent about yourself=Topic |
| 2 | **is** | present | you |  |  |  |  | good *property* | tree rules |

<!-- .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 -->
Dressing or behaving in a way that does not draw attention to your body, often for reasons of religion or custom.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:modesty:m2:1
# text = Dressing or behaving in a way that does not draw attention to your body, often for reasons of religion or custom.
1	Dressing	dress	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	18	csubj	_	_
2	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	behaving	behave	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	1	conj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj	_	_
8	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
9	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
10	draw	draw	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	acl:relcl	_	_
11	attention	attention	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
12	to	to	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	14	nmod:poss	_	_
14	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
16	often	often	ADV	RB	_	18	advmod	_	_
17	for	for	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
18	reasons	reason	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
19	of	of	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
20	religion	religion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	nmod	_	_
21	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
22	custom	custom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	18	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dress** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **behave** | gerund |  |  |  | a way |  |  | vn masquerade-29.6-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **not** **draw** | present · do-support | a way | attention |  | your body |  |  | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent attention=Theme to body=Destination |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Being small or not much: the modesty of their home.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:modesty:m3:1
# text = Being small or not much: the modesty of their home.
1	Being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	cop	_	_
2	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
4	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	much	much	ADV	RB	_	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	modesty	modesty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	home	home	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Despite her modesty, she was the best player.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:modesty:x1:1
# text = Despite her modesty, she was the best player.
1	Despite	despite	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	modesty	modesty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	best	good	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	9	amod	_	_
9	player	player	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | she | the best player |  |  |  | despite her modesty | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«It was nothing,» he said with modesty.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:modesty:x2:1
# text = «It was nothing,» he said with modesty.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	nothing	nothing	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	8	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
7	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	modesty	modesty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** *in a quote* | past | It | nothing |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | he |  |  |  |  | with modesty | vn pronounce-29.3.1 «NP V NP PP.manner»: agent=Agent with modesty=Manner |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Toad had no modesty at all — he sang songs about himself.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:modesty:x3:1
# text = Toad had no modesty at all — he sang songs about himself.
1	Toad	Toad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	4	det	_	_
4	modesty	modesty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	2	obl	_	_
7	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
8	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	sang	sing	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
10	songs	song	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	_
11	about	about	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	himself	himself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | Toad | no modesty |  | all |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent modesty=Patient |
| 2 | **sing** *speech: express* | past | Toad | songs |  |  |  | about Toad | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location song=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some people wear long clothes for modesty.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:modesty:x4:1
# text = Some people wear long clothes for modesty.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	wear	wear	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	clothes	clothes	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan	3	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	modesty	modesty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wear** | present | some people | long clothes |  |  |  | for modesty | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.source»: agent=Agent clothes=Source |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His modesty made everyone like him.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:modesty:x5:1
# text = His modesty made everyone like him.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	modesty	modesty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	3	obj	_	_
5	like	like	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | His modesty | everyone |  |  |  | like him *= he* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset everyone=Product |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The prize-winner thanked her teachers with great modesty.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:modesty:x6:1
# text = The prize-winner thanked her teachers with great modesty.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	prize	prize	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	winner	winner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	thanked	thank	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	teachers	teacher	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	modesty	modesty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **thank** *speech: thank* | past | the prize winner |  | winner's teachers |  |  | with great modesty | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent teacher=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
False modesty is fishing for compliments.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:modesty:x7:1
# text = False modesty is fishing for compliments.
1	False	false	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	modesty	modesty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	fishing	fish	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	compliments	compliment	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fish** | present · progressive | False modesty |  |  |  |  | for compliments | vn hunt-35.1 «NP V PP.theme PP.location»: agent=Agent for compliment=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
However he received all the praises bestowed on him with becoming modesty, and prostrating himself, said:

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:modesty:x8:1
# text = However he received all the praises bestowed on him with becoming modesty, and prostrating himself, said:
1	However	however	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
2	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	received	receive	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	6	det:predet	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	praises	praise	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
7	bestowed	bestow	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obl	_	_
10	with	with	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
11	becoming	become	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	advcl	_	_
12	modesty	modesty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
15	prostrating	prostrate	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	18	ccomp	_	_
16	himself	himself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
18	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	18	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **receive** | past | he | all praises |  |  |  | however *property* | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent praise=Theme |
| 2 | **bestow** | participle |  | all praises *not said here* |  |  |  | on him *= he* | tree rules |
| 3 | **become** | gerund |  | modesty |  |  |  |  | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient |
| 4 | **prostrate** | gerund |  | himself *= he* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **say** *speech: assert* | past |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=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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