---
title: prise — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «prise» in the school dictionary: To force something open or apart, often by pushing a tool into a gap and levering: «She prised the lid off the tin with a coin.». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# prise

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** She, I, Dad, bird, He, We · **What happens:** force, push, lever, prise, get, use · **To what, where:** something, tool, gap, lid, tin, someone · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: UK, Ireland, Australia, NZ — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To force something open or apart, often by pushing a tool into a gap and levering: «She prised the lid off the tin with a coin.».

<!-- fold The tree, 26 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prise:m1:1
# text = To force something open or apart, often by pushing a tool into a gap and levering: «She prised the lid off the tin with a coin.».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	force	force	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	open	open	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	apart	apart	ADV	RB	_	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	often	often	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
9	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
10	pushing	push	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	conj	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	tool	tool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
13	into	into	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	gap	gap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	levering	lever	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	21	punct	_	_
19	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	21	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	21	nsubj	_	_
21	prised	prise	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	parataxis	_	_
22	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
23	lid	lid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	obj	_	_
24	off	off	ADP	IN	_	26	case	_	_
25	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	26	det	_	_
26	tin	tin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	obl	_	_
27	with	with	ADP	IN	_	29	case	_	_
28	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	29	det	_	_
29	coin	coin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	26	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	21	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	21	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
32	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **force** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn urge-58.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Recipient |
| 2 | **push** | gerund |  | a tool |  | a gap |  | often *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **lever** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **prise** *in a quote* | past | She | the lid |  | the tin with a coin |  |  | vn remove-10.1 «NP V NP PP»: agent=Agent lid=Theme off tin=Initial\_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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To get something out of someone with effort: «I finally prised the secret out of him.».

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prise:m2:1
# text = To get something out of someone with effort: «I finally prised the secret out of him.».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	advcl	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	out	out	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obl	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	effort	effort	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	2	punct	_	_
10	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
12	finally	finally	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
13	prised	prise	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	secret	secret	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	_
16	out	out	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	of	of	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
18	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	13	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | to-infinitive | I *not said here* | something |  | someone |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer something=Stimulus |
| 2 | **prise** *in a quote* | past | I | the secret |  |  |  | out him *= he*; finally *property* | vn remove-10.1 «NP V NP PP»: agent=Agent secret=Theme out he=Initial\_Location |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad prised the paint tin open with a screwdriver.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prise:x1:1
# text = Dad prised the paint tin open with a screwdriver.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	prised	prise	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	paint	paint	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	tin	tin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	open	open	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	screwdriver	screwdriver	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **prise** | past | Dad | the paint tin |  |  |  | with a screwdriver; open *property* | vn remove-10.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tin=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The bird prised the mussel shell apart.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prise:x2:1
# text = The bird prised the mussel shell apart.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	prised	prise	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	mussel	mussel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	shell	shell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	apart	apart	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **prise** | participle | the bird | the mussel shell |  |  |  | apart *property* | vn remove-10.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent shell=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He prised the stone out of his boot.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prise:x3:1
# text = He prised the stone out of his boot.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	prised	prise	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	stone	stone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	out	out	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	boot	boot	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 | **prise** | past | He | the stone |  | his boot |  |  | vn remove-10.1 «NP V NP PP»: agent=Agent stone=Theme out boot=Initial\_Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We prised the truth out of my little brother.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prise:x4:1
# text = We prised the truth out of my little brother.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	prised	prise	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	truth	truth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	out	out	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
8	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **prise** | past | We | the truth |  |  |  | out my little brother | vn remove-10.1 «NP V NP PP»: agent=Agent truth=Theme out brother=Initial\_Location |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Use a spoon to prise the lid off, not your teeth.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prise:x5:1
# text = Use a spoon to prise the lid off, not your teeth.
1	Use	use	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	spoon	spoon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	prise	prise	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	lid	lid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	off	off	ADP	RP	_	5	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	12	advmod	_	_
11	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	teeth	tooth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | imperative | you *not said here* | a spoon |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent spoon=Patient |
| 2 | **prise off** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | the lid |  |  |  | your teeth *obl* | vn remove-10.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent lid=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The burglars tried to prise the window open.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prise:x6:1
# text = The burglars tried to prise the window open.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	burglars	burglar	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	tried	try	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	prise	prise	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	window	window	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	open	open	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | past | the burglars |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **prise** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | the burglars *not said here* | the window |  |  |  | open *property* | vn remove-10.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent window=Theme |

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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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