---
title: oppressive — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «oppressive» in the school dictionary: Cruel and unfair, keeping people down and taking away their freedom: an oppressive ruler. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# oppressive

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, people, heat, storm, Mole, Slavery · **What happens:** keep down, take away, make, feel, weigh down, rise up · **To what, where:** people, freedom, you, oppressive silence, Wild Wood, oppressive system

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Cruel and unfair, keeping people down and taking away their freedom: an oppressive ruler.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oppressive:m1:1
# text = Cruel and unfair, keeping people down and taking away their freedom: an oppressive ruler.
1	Cruel	cruel	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	unfair	unfair	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	keeping	keep	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	parataxis	_	_
6	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
7	down	down	ADP	RP	_	5	compound:prt	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	taking	take	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	conj	_	_
10	away	away	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
11	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	freedom	freedom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	16	punct	_	_
14	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	oppressive	oppressive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	ruler	ruler	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep down** | gerund |  | people |  |  |  |  | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent people=Patient |
| 2 | **take away** | gerund |  | people's freedom and a oppressive ruler |  |  |  | away *property* | vn remove-10.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent freedom=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.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Of weather: hot, heavy and airless, making you feel uncomfortable.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oppressive:m2:1
# text = Of weather: hot, heavy and airless, making you feel uncomfortable.
1	Of	of	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	weather	weather	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	4	punct	_	_
4	hot	hot	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	heavy	heavy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	airless	airless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	making	make	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	conj	_	_
11	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	_
12	feel	feel	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	xcomp	_	_
13	uncomfortable	uncomfortable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | gerund |  | you |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **feel** | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | uncomfortable *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Making you feel worried, sad or weighed down: an oppressive silence.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oppressive:m3:1
# text = Making you feel worried, sad or weighed down: an oppressive silence.
1	Making	make	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	nsubj	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	feel	feel	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	worried	worried	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	sad	sad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	weighed	weigh	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	conj	_	_
9	down	down	ADP	RP	_	8	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
11	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	oppressive	oppressive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	silence	silence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 2 | **feel** | present |  |  |  |  |  | worried *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 3 | **weigh down** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn register-54.1-2-1 «NP V NP.value»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The people rose up against the oppressive king.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oppressive:x1:1
# text = The people rose up against the oppressive king.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	rose	rise	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	up	up	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	against	against	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	oppressive	oppressive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	king	king	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 | **rise up** | past | the people |  |  |  |  | against the oppressive king | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent against king=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The heat was oppressive before the storm broke.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oppressive:x2:1
# text = The heat was oppressive before the storm broke.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	heat	heat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	oppressive	oppressive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	storm	storm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	broke	break	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the heat |  |  |  |  | oppressive *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **break** | past | the storm |  |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mole felt the oppressive silence of the Wild Wood.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oppressive:x3:1
# text = Mole felt the oppressive silence of the Wild Wood.
1	Mole	Mole	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	felt	feel	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	oppressive	oppressive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	silence	silence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	Wild	Wild	PROPN	NNP	_	9	flat	_	_
9	Wood	Wood	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **feel** | past | Mole | the oppressive silence of the Wild Wood |  |  |  |  | vn hunt-35.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent silence=Theme |
| 2 | **silence** |  |  | the Wild Wood |  |  |  |  | nom silence «state transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Slavery was an oppressive and cruel system.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oppressive:x4:1
# text = Slavery was an oppressive and cruel system.
1	Slavery	slavery	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
4	oppressive	oppressive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	cruel	cruel	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	_
7	system	system	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The air in the attic was hot and oppressive.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oppressive:x5:1
# text = The air in the attic was hot and oppressive.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	air	air	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	attic	attic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	hot	hot	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	oppressive	oppressive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the air in the attic |  |  |  |  | hot *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | the air in the attic *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An oppressive feeling of dread filled the room.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oppressive:x6:1
# text = An oppressive feeling of dread filled the room.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	oppressive	oppressive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	feeling	feeling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	dread	dread	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
6	filled	fill	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	room	room	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fill** | past | a oppressive feeling of dread | the room |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent room=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Here there was bitter cold and snow-storms, while in Spain there was burning sunshine and oppressive heat.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oppressive:x7:1
# text = Here there was bitter cold and snow-storms, while in Spain there was burning sunshine and oppressive heat.
1	Here	here	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	3	advmod	_	_
2	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	3	expl	_	_
3	was	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	bitter	bitter	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
5	cold	cold	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
7	snow	snow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	storms	storm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
11	while	while	SCONJ	IN	_	16	mark	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	Spain	Spain	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	_
14	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	15	expl	_	_
15	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	16	aux	_	_
16	burning	burn	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
17	sunshine	sunshine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obj	_	_
18	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
19	oppressive	oppressive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
20	heat	heat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | past | bitter cold snow storms |  |  | here; there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **burn** | past · progressive | bitter cold snow storms *not said here* | sunshine and oppressive heat |  | Spain |  |  | vn light\_emission-43.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent sunshine=Theme |

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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.

<!-- /div -->

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