---
title: perusal — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «perusal» in the school dictionary: The act of reading something carefully and thoroughly. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# perusal

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** act, her, we, I, your, quick perusal · **What happens:** read, leave, peruse, find, enclose, write · **To what, where:** something, look, letter, desk, hidden path, map · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The act of reading something carefully and thoroughly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:perusal:m1:1
# text = The act of reading something carefully and thoroughly.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	act	act	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
4	reading	read	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	acl	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	obj	_	_
6	carefully	carefully	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	thoroughly	thoroughly	ADV	RB	_	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **read** | gerund | the act *not said here* | something |  |  |  | carefully *property* | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Topic |

<!-- .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}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: formal, often in modern use — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A quick look through something; reading it casually.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:perusal:m2:1
# text = A quick look through something; reading it casually.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	quick	quick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	look	look	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	through	through	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
7	reading	read	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	acl	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	casually	casually	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **read** | gerund |  | look |  |  |  | casually *property* | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Topic |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The letter was left on the desk for her perusal.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:perusal:x1:1
# text = The letter was left on the desk for her perusal.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	letter	letter	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	left	leave	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	desk	desk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	perusal	perusal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **leave** | past · passive |  | the letter |  | the desk |  | for her perusal | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: subject=Theme on desk=Location |
| 2 | **peruse** |  | her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom perusal «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
After a careful perusal of the map, we found the hidden path.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:perusal:x2:1
# text = After a careful perusal of the map, we found the hidden path.
1	After	after	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	careful	careful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	perusal	perusal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	map	map	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
9	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	found	find	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	hidden	hidden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	path	path	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **find** | past | we | the hidden path |  |  | after a careful perusal of the map |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent path=Topic |
| 2 | **peruse** |  |  | the map |  |  |  |  | nom perusal «communication transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«I enclose my homework for your perusal,» wrote Ben, trying to sound grand.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:perusal:x3:1
# text = «I enclose my homework for your perusal,» wrote Ben, trying to sound grand.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	enclose	enclose	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	parataxis	_	_
4	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	homework	homework	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	perusal	perusal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
11	wrote	write	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
12	Ben	Ben	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	trying	try	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	11	advcl	_	_
15	to	to	PART	TO	_	16	mark	_	_
16	sound	sound	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	xcomp	_	_
17	grand	grand	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **enclose** *in a quote* | present | I | my homework |  |  |  | for your perusal | vn contiguous\_location-47.8 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme homework=Co-Theme |
| 2 | **write** | past |  | Ben |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S»: agent=Agent ben=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 3 | **try** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 4 | **sound** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | grand *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 5 | **peruse** *in a quote* |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom perusal «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A quick perusal of the menu showed there was no pizza.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:perusal:x4:1
# text = A quick perusal of the menu showed there was no pizza.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	quick	quick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	perusal	perusal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	menu	menu	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	showed	show	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	9	expl	_	_
9	was	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	ccomp	_	_
10	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	11	det	_	_
11	pizza	pizza	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | past | a quick perusal of the menu |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **be** | past | no pizza |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **peruse** |  |  | the menu |  |  |  |  | nom perusal «communication transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The teacher's perusal of our stories took all weekend.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:perusal:x5:1
# text = The teacher's perusal of our stories took all weekend.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	perusal	perusal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	stories	story	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
8	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	10	det	_	_
10	weekend	weekend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | past | the teacher's perusal of our stories |  |  |  | weekend |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **peruse** |  | the teacher | our stories |  |  |  |  | nom perusal «communication transitive»: poss=agent of=patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The contract needs a full perusal before anyone signs it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:perusal:x6:1
# text = The contract needs a full perusal before anyone signs it.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	contract	contract	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	needs	need	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	full	full	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	perusal	perusal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
8	anyone	anyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	nsubj	_	_
9	signs	sign	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **need** | present | the contract | a full perusal |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot perusal=Theme |
| 2 | **sign** | present | anyone | perusal |  |  |  |  | vn image\_impression-25.1 «NP V NP.destination»: agent=Agent it=Destination |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They were first brought to light, after a patient search and diligent perusal of ancient authors, by a Frenchman, M.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:perusal:x7:1
# text = They were first brought to light, after a patient search and diligent perusal of ancient authors, by a Frenchman, M.
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
3	first	first	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	4	advmod	_	_
4	brought	bring	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
8	after	after	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	patient	patient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	search	search	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
13	diligent	diligent	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	perusal	perusal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	_
15	of	of	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	ancient	ancient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	authors	author	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
19	by	by	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
20	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	Frenchman	frenchman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
23	M.	M.	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **bring** | past · passive |  | They |  | light | after a patient search and diligent perusal of ancient authors and a Frenchman and M. | first *property* | vn bring-11.3-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: subject=Theme to light=Destination |
| 2 | **peruse** |  |  | ancient authors |  |  |  |  | nom perusal «communication transitive»: of=patient |

<!-- 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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