---
title: philosopher — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «philosopher» in the school dictionary: A philosopher is a person who thinks and writes about big questions, such as what is true, what is right and wrong, and what life means. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# philosopher

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** philosopher, person, life, Grandad, stone, legendary stone · **What happens:** be, think, write, mean, stay, trouble · **To what, where:** person, bit, legendary stone, metal, gold, philosopher · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A philosopher is a person who thinks and writes about big questions, such as what is true, what is right and wrong, and what life means.

<!-- fold The tree, 26 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:philosopher:m1:1
# text = A philosopher is a person who thinks and writes about big questions, such as what is true, what is right and wrong, and what life means.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	philosopher	philosopher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	thinks	think	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	writes	write	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	_
10	about	about	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	questions	question	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
14	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=SCONJ	18	mark	_	_
15	as	as	ADP	IN	_	14	fixed	_	_
16	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	18	nsubj	_	_
17	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	18	cop	_	_
18	true	true	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
20	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	22	nsubj	_	_
21	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	22	cop	_	_
22	right	right	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	parataxis	_	_
23	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
24	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	22	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	29	punct	_	_
26	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	29	cc	_	_
27	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	29	obj	_	_
28	life	life	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	29	nsubj	_	_
29	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	18	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a philosopher | a person |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **think** *speech: other* | present | a person |  |  |  |  |  | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **write** | present | a person *not said here* |  |  |  |  | about big questions | vn lecture-37.11-1 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent about question=Topic |
| 4 | **is** | present | a person |  |  |  |  | true *property* | tree rules |
| 5 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | right *property* | tree rules |
| 6 | **be** |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 7 | **mean** | present | life |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent what=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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A person who stays calm and thoughtful about life's troubles: «Grandad is a bit of a philosopher».

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:philosopher:m2:1
# text = A person who stays calm and thoughtful about life's troubles: «Grandad is a bit of a philosopher».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	4	nsubj	_	_
4	stays	stay	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	calm	calm	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	thoughtful	thoughtful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	_
8	about	about	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	life	life	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	's	's	PART	POS	_	9	case	_	_
11	troubles	trouble	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	17	punct	_	_
13	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	Grandad	Grandad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	17	nsubj	_	_
15	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	17	cop	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	bit	bit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	parataxis	_	_
18	of	of	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	philosopher	philosopher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stay** | present | a person |  |  |  |  | calm *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** *in a quote* | present | Grandad | a bit |  |  |  | of a philosopher | tree rules |
| 3 | **trouble** |  | life |  |  |  |  |  | nom trouble «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A philosopher's stone is a legendary stone said to turn metal into gold.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:philosopher:m3:1
# text = A philosopher's stone is a legendary stone said to turn metal into gold.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	philosopher	philosopher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	stone	stone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	legendary	legendary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	stone	stone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	turn	turn	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	ccomp	_	_
12	metal	metal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	_
13	into	into	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	gold	gold	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a philosopher's stone | a legendary stone |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | a legendary stone |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V how S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **turn** | to-infinitive |  | metal |  | gold |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP PP.trajectory»: agent=Agent metal=Theme into gold=Trajectory |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Socrates was a philosopher who asked lots of questions.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:philosopher:x1:1
# text = Socrates was a philosopher who asked lots of questions.
1	Socrates	socrates	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	philosopher	philosopher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	asked	ask	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
7	lots	lot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	questions	question	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | Socrates | a philosopher |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **ask** *speech: ask* | past | a philosopher | lots of questions |  |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent lot=Recipient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Philosophers ask: what makes an action right or wrong?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:philosopher:x2:1
# text = Philosophers ask: what makes an action right or wrong?
1	Philosophers	philosopher	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	ask	ask	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	2	punct	_	_
4	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	5	nsubj	_	_
5	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	_
6	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	action	action	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	right	right	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	xcomp	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ask** *speech: ask* | present | Philosophers |  |  |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **make** | present |  | a action |  |  |  | right *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.material V NP»: agent=Material action=Product |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In P4C our class acted like philosophers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:philosopher:x3:1
# text = In P4C our class acted like philosophers.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	P4C	P4C	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
3	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	acted	act	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	like	like	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	philosophers	philosopher	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **act** | participle | our class |  |  | P4C |  | like philosophers | vn masquerade-29.6-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Agent like philosopher=Attribute |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The philosopher's stone in the story turns metal into gold.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:philosopher:x4:1
# text = The philosopher's stone in the story turns metal into gold.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	philosopher	philosopher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	stone	stone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
8	turns	turn	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	metal	metal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
10	into	into	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	gold	gold	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **turn** | present | the philosopher's stone in the story | metal |  | gold |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP PP.trajectory»: agent=Agent metal=Theme into gold=Trajectory |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Plato was a student of Socrates and a great philosopher.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:philosopher:x5:1
# text = Plato was a student of Socrates and a great philosopher.
1	Plato	Plato	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	student	student	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	Socrates	Socrates	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	philosopher	philosopher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | Plato | a student and a great philosopher |  |  |  | of Socrates | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandma is a philosopher about bad weather: «It'll pass».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:philosopher:x6:1
# text = Grandma is a philosopher about bad weather: «It'll pass».
1	Grandma	grandma	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	philosopher	philosopher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	about	about	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	weather	weather	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
9	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	'll	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	_
12	pass	pass	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Grandma | a philosopher |  |  |  | about bad weather | tree rules |
| 2 | **pass** *in a quote* | future | weather |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some philosophers think animals have rights.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:philosopher:x7:1
# text = Some philosophers think animals have rights.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	philosophers	philosopher	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	think	think	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
5	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
6	rights	right	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **think** *speech: other* | present | some philosophers |  |  |  |  |  | vn consider-29.9-2 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **have** | present | animals | rights |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent right=Patient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
This jewel was called the philosopher's stone.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:philosopher:x8:1
# text = This jewel was called the philosopher's stone.
1	This	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	2	det	_	_
2	jewel	jewel	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	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	philosopher	philosopher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	's	's	PART	POS	_	6	case	_	_
8	stone	stone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | past · passive |  | this jewel |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: subject=Recipient |

<!-- 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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