---
title: pitifully — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «pitifully» in the school dictionary: In a way that makes people feel pity. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# pitifully

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** way, people, stray dog, kitten, small crowd, He · **What happens:** make, feel, be, cry, come, sob · **To what, where:** people, pity, few apples, innocence, wife, fate

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In a way that makes people feel pity.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pitifully:m1:1
# text = In a way that makes people feel pity.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	5	nsubj	_	_
5	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	acl:relcl	_	_
6	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
7	feel	feel	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	pity	pity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | a way | people |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **feel** | infinitive | people *not said here* | pity |  |  |  |  | vn hunt-35.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pity=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 -->
Disappointingly, very: «pitifully small», «pitifully few».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pitifully:m2:1
# text = Disappointingly, very: «pitifully small», «pitifully few».
1	Disappointingly	disappointingly	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	very	very	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
5	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	pitifully	pitifully	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	pitifully	pitifully	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	few	few	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The stray dog was pitifully thin.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pitifully:x1:1
# text = The stray dog was pitifully thin.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	stray	stray	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	pitifully	pitifully	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	thin	thin	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the stray dog |  |  |  |  | pitifully, thin *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The kitten cried pitifully.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pitifully:x2:1
# text = The kitten cried pitifully.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	kitten	kitten	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	cried	cry	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	pitifully	pitifully	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cry** *speech: express* | past | the kitten |  |  |  |  | pitifully *property* | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Only a pitifully small crowd came.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pitifully:x3:1
# text = Only a pitifully small crowd came.
1	Only	only	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
3	pitifully	pitifully	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	crowd	crowd	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | past | a small crowd |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He sobbed pitifully when his toy broke.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pitifully:x4:1
# text = He sobbed pitifully when his toy broke.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	sobbed	sob	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	pitifully	pitifully	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	7	advmod	_	_
5	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	toy	toy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	broke	break	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sob** | past | He |  |  |  |  | pitifully *property* | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **break** | past | his toy |  |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The house was pitifully cold.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pitifully:x5:1
# text = The house was pitifully cold.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	pitifully	pitifully	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	cold	cold	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the house |  |  |  |  | cold, pitifully *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There were pitifully few apples left.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pitifully:x6:1
# text = There were pitifully few apples left.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	were	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	pitifully	pitifully	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	few	few	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	apples	apple	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
6	left	leave	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | past | few apples |  |  | there |  | pitifully *property* | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **leave** | participle |  | few apples *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The merchant, protesting his innocence, bewailed his wife and children, and tried pitifully to avert his fate.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pitifully:x7:1
# text = The merchant, protesting his innocence, bewailed his wife and children, and tried pitifully to avert his fate.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	merchant	merchant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	protesting	protest	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	acl	_	_
5	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	innocence	innocence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
8	bewailed	bewail	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	wife	wife	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	tried	try	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	conj	_	_
16	pitifully	pitifully	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
17	to	to	PART	TO	_	18	mark	_	_
18	avert	avert	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	xcomp	_	_
19	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	20	nmod:poss	_	_
20	fate	fate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **protest** *speech: disagree* | gerund | the merchant *not said here* | merchant's innocence |  |  |  |  | vn rebel-71.2-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent innocence=Topic |
| 2 | **bewail** | past | the merchant | merchant's wife and children |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer wife=Stimulus |
| 3 | **try** | past | the merchant *not said here* |  |  |  |  | pitifully *property* | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 4 | **avert** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | the merchant *not said here* | merchant's fate |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **fate** |  | merchant |  |  |  |  |  | nom fate «event transitive»: poss=agent |

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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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