---
title: pestilence — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «pestilence» in the school dictionary: A deadly disease that spreads quickly through many people, such as the plague. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# pestilence

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** deadly disease, pestilence, Black Death, People, Rats, Old prayers · **What happens:** spread, send, plague, be, sweep, flee · **To what, where:** One, Egypt, town, warnings, Bible, terrible pestilence

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A deadly disease that spreads quickly through many people, such as the plague.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pestilence:m1:1
# text = A deadly disease that spreads quickly through many people, such as the plague.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	deadly	deadly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	disease	disease	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	5	nsubj	_	_
5	spreads	spread	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	acl:relcl	_	_
6	quickly	quickly	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
7	through	through	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
11	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	14	case	_	_
12	as	as	ADP	IN	_	11	fixed	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	plague	plague	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spread** | present | a deadly disease |  |  |  |  | through many people such the plague; quickly *property* | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme through people=Location |

<!-- .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: Bible — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
One of the disasters sent as punishment or warning, as in the plagues of Egypt; the rider "Pestilence" of the Book of Revelation.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pestilence:m2:1
# text = One of the disasters sent as punishment or warning, as in the plagues of Egypt; the rider "Pestilence" of the Book of Revelation.
1	One	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	obl	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	disasters	disaster	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	_
5	sent	send	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	as	as	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	punishment	punishment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	warning	warning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
11	as	as	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	plagues	plague	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	_
15	of	of	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	Egypt	Egypt	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	14	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	21	punct	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	rider	rider	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	compound	_	_
20	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	21	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	Pestilence	pestilence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	21	punct	_	_
23	of	of	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
24	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
25	Book	Book	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	21	nmod	_	_
26	of	of	ADP	IN	_	27	case	_	_
27	Revelation	Revelation	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	25	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **send** | past |  | One |  |  |  | of the disasters; as punishment or warning; as the plagues of Egypt; rider Pestilence of the Book of Revelation *obl* | vn send-11.1-1 «NP V NP PP.initial\_location»: agent=Agent of disaster=Initial\_Location |
| 2 | **plague** |  |  | Egypt |  |  |  |  | nom plague «state transitive»: of=patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Something that is very harmful or annoying (old use).

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pestilence:m3:1
# text = Something that is very harmful or annoying (old use).
1	Something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
2	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	very	very	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	harmful	harmful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	acl:relcl	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	annoying	annoying	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	_
8	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	use	use	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | harmful *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The pestilence swept through the town in 1665.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pestilence:x1:1
# text = The pestilence swept through the town in 1665.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	pestilence	pestilence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	swept	sweep	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	through	through	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	town	town	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	1665	1665	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sweep** | past | the pestilence |  |  | the town |  | in 1665 | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme through town=Trajectory |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the Bible, pestilence and famine are warnings.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pestilence:x2:1
# text = In the Bible, pestilence and famine are warnings.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	Bible	Bible	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	pestilence	pestilence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	famine	famine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	warnings	warning	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	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** | present | pestilence and famine | warnings |  | the Bible |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Black Death was a terrible pestilence.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pestilence:x3:1
# text = The Black Death was a terrible pestilence.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	Black	black	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	Death	Death	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	terrible	terrible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	pestilence	pestilence	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 | the Black Death | a terrible pestilence |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
People fled the city to escape the pestilence.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pestilence:x4:1
# text = People fled the city to escape the pestilence.
1	People	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	fled	flee	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	city	city	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	escape	escape	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	pestilence	pestilence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **flee** | past | People | the city |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme city=Initial\_Location |
| 2 | **escape** | to-infinitive | People *not said here* | the pestilence |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme pestilence=Initial\_Location |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Rats and fleas helped spread the pestilence.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pestilence:x5:1
# text = Rats and fleas helped spread the pestilence.
1	Rats	rat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	fleas	flea	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	conj	_	_
4	helped	help	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	spread	spread	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	pestilence	pestilence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | past | Rats and fleas |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **spread** | infinitive | Rats and fleas *not said here* | the pestilence |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location pestilence=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Old prayers asked God to keep people safe from pestilence.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pestilence:x6:1
# text = Old prayers asked God to keep people safe from pestilence.
1	Old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	prayers	prayer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	asked	ask	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	God	God	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	iobj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
7	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
8	safe	safe	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	_
9	from	from	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	pestilence	pestilence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ask** *speech: ask* | past | Old prayers |  | God |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP whether S\_INF»: agent=Agent god=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 2 | **keep** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | Old prayers *not said here* | people |  |  |  | safe *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent people=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
But at last the gods afflicted the country with a grievous pestilence, which made terrible havoc among the people.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pestilence:x7:1
# text = But at last the gods afflicted the country with a grievous pestilence, which made terrible havoc among the people.
1	But	but	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
2	at	at	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	last	last	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	nsubj:outer	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	gods	god	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
6	afflicted	afflict	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	country	country	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	with	with	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	grievous	grievous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	pestilence	pestilence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
14	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	15	nsubj	_	_
15	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	acl:relcl	_	_
16	terrible	terrible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	havoc	havoc	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	_
18	among	among	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **afflict** | past | last | the country |  |  |  | with a grievous pestilence | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus country=Experiencer |
| 2 | **make** | past | a grievous pestilence | terrible havoc |  |  |  | among the people | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset havoc=Product |

<!-- 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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