---
title: peppercorn — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «peppercorn» in the school dictionary: A peppercorn is a small dried berry of the pepper plant; it is ground up to make black or white pepper. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# peppercorn

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** peppercorn, peppercorn rent, Dad, pepper mill, peppercorns, people · **What happens:** be, make, put, grind, pay, pick · **To what, where:** small dried berry, ground, black pepper, tiny free payment, few peppercorns, soup

<!-- .vabout -->
«peppercorn» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [peppercorn in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/peppercorn.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A peppercorn is a small dried berry of the pepper plant; it is ground up to make black or white pepper.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:peppercorn:m1:1
# text = A peppercorn is a small dried berry of the pepper plant; it is ground up to make black or white pepper.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	peppercorn	peppercorn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	dried	dried	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	berry	berry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	pepper	pepper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	plant	plant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	15	punct	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
14	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	cop	_	_
15	ground	ground	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	_
16	up	up	ADP	RP	_	15	compound:prt	_	_
17	to	to	PART	TO	_	18	mark	_	_
18	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	acl	_	_
19	black	black	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	22	amod	_	_
20	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
21	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	conj	_	_
22	pepper	pepper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a peppercorn | a small dried berry and ground |  |  |  | of the pepper plant | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | present | peppercorn | ground |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **make** | to-infinitive | a peppercorn *not said here* | black pepper |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset pepper=Product |

<!-- .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 -->
A «peppercorn rent» is a tiny, almost free payment.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:peppercorn:m2:1
# text = A «peppercorn rent» is a tiny, almost free payment.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	peppercorn	peppercorn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	rent	rent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
8	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
10	almost	almost	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
11	free	free	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	payment	payment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a peppercorn rent | a tiny free payment |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad put a few peppercorns in the soup.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:peppercorn:x1:1
# text = Dad put a few peppercorns in the soup.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	put	put	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	few	few	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	peppercorns	peppercorn	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	soup	soup	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **put** | past | Dad | a few peppercorns |  | the soup |  |  | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent peppercorn=Theme in soup=Destination |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The pepper mill grinds the peppercorns into black pepper.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:peppercorn:x2:1
# text = The pepper mill grinds the peppercorns into black pepper.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	pepper	pepper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	mill	mill	NOUN	NN	_	4	nsubj	_	_
4	grinds	grind	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	peppercorns	peppercorn	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
7	into	into	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	black	black	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	pepper	pepper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grind** | present | the pepper mill | the peppercorns |  | black pepper |  |  | vn build-26.1 «NP V NP.material PP.product»: agent=Agent peppercorn=Material into pepper=Product |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A peppercorn is about as big as a tiny pea.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:peppercorn:x3:1
# text = A peppercorn is about as big as a tiny pea.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	peppercorn	peppercorn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	about	about	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
5	as	as	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
7	as	as	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	pea	pea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a peppercorn |  |  |  |  | as a tiny pea; about, big *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Long ago, peppercorns were so valuable that people paid with them.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:peppercorn:x4:1
# text = Long ago, peppercorns were so valuable that people paid with them.
1	Long	long	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	2	advmod	_	_
2	ago	ago	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	peppercorns	peppercorn	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
5	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	so	so	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	valuable	valuable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
8	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
9	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	_
10	paid	pay	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	advcl	_	_
11	with	with	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | peppercorns |  |  |  |  | ago, valuable *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **pay** | past | people |  |  |  |  | with peppercorns *= peppercorn* | vn pay-68-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Green peppercorns are picked before they are ripe.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:peppercorn:x5:1
# text = Green peppercorns are picked before they are ripe.
1	Green	green	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	peppercorns	peppercorn	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	picked	pick	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
6	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
7	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	ripe	ripe	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pick** | present · passive |  | Green peppercorns |  |  |  |  | vn chew-39.2 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | present | peppercorns *= peppercorn* |  |  |  |  | ripe *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Biting a whole peppercorn makes your mouth hot.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:peppercorn:x6:1
# text = Biting a whole peppercorn makes your mouth hot.
1	Biting	bite	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	csubj	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	whole	whole	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	peppercorn	peppercorn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	mouth	mouth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	hot	hot	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **bite** | gerund |  | a whole peppercorn |  |  |  |  | vn swat-18.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent peppercorn=Patient |
| 2 | **make** | present | Biting | your mouth |  |  |  | hot *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset mouth=Product |

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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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