---
title: prodigal — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «prodigal» in the school dictionary: The prodigal son is the young man in Jesus's story who wastes his father's money, comes home sorry, and is welcomed with love. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# prodigal

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** prodigal son, young man, Jesus, God, father, prodigal · **What happens:** be, waste, come, welcome, spend, come back · **To what, where:** young man, story, money, prodigal returns, love, pigs · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The prodigal son is the young man in Jesus's story who wastes his father's money, comes home sorry, and is welcomed with love.

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prodigal:m1:1
# text = The prodigal son is the young man in Jesus's story who wastes his father's money, comes home sorry, and is welcomed with love.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	prodigal	prodigal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	son	son	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	young	young	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	Jesus	Jesus	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	's	's	PART	POS	_	9	case	_	_
11	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
12	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	13	nsubj	_	_
13	wastes	waste	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	parataxis	_	_
14	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	15	nmod:poss	_	_
15	father	father	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	's	's	PART	POS	_	15	case	_	_
17	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
19	comes	come	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	parataxis	_	_
20	home	home	ADV	RB	_	19	advmod	_	_
21	sorry	sorry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	25	punct	_	_
23	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	25	cc	_	_
24	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	25	aux:pass	_	_
25	welcomed	welcome	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	13	parataxis	_	_
26	with	with	ADP	IN	_	27	case	_	_
27	love	love	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the prodigal son | the young man |  | Jesus's story |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **waste** | present | the young man | Jesus's father's money |  |  |  |  | vn destroy-44 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent money=Patient |
| 3 | **come** | present |  |  |  |  |  | home, sorry *property* | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **welcome** | present · passive |  |  |  |  |  | with love | vn admit-64.3-1 «NP V NP» |

<!-- .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 — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Spending money or things too freely and wastefully.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prodigal:m2:1
# text = Spending money or things too freely and wastefully.
1	Spending	spend	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	_
5	too	too	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	freely	freely	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	wastefully	wastefully	ADV	RB	_	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spend** | gerund |  | money or things |  |  |  | freely *property* | vn consume-66-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent money=Asset |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Someone who comes back home after being away a long time, especially after doing wrong: «the prodigal returns».

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prodigal:m3:1
# text = Someone who comes back home after being away a long time, especially after doing wrong: «the prodigal returns».
1	Someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
2	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	3	nsubj	_	_
3	comes	come	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	acl:relcl	_	_
4	back	back	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	home	home	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
6	after	after	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
7	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	11	cop	_	_
8	away	away	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
13	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
14	after	after	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
15	doing	do	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	parataxis	_	_
16	wrong	wrong	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	21	punct	_	_
18	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	21	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
20	prodigal	prodigal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	21	amod	_	_
21	returns	return	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	21	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come back** | present |  |  |  |  |  | home *property* | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | gerund |  |  |  |  | after a long time | away *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **do** | gerund |  | the prodigal returns |  |  |  | especially, wrong *property* | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Jesus told the story of the prodigal son to show God's love.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prodigal:x1:1
# text = Jesus told the story of the prodigal son to show God's love.
1	Jesus	Jesus	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	told	tell	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	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	prodigal	prodigal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	son	son	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	show	show	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
11	God	God	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	13	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	's	's	PART	POS	_	11	case	_	_
13	love	love	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | past | Jesus | the story of the prodigal son |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent story=Recipient |
| 2 | **show** | to-infinitive | Jesus *not said here* | God's love |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent love=Recipient |
| 3 | **love** |  | God |  |  |  |  |  | nom love «feeling transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The prodigal son spent all his money and ended up feeding pigs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prodigal:x2:1
# text = The prodigal son spent all his money and ended up feeding pigs.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	prodigal	prodigal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	son	son	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	spent	spend	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	7	det:predet	_	_
6	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	ended	end	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
10	up	up	ADP	RP	_	9	compound:prt	_	_
11	feeding	feed	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	9	xcomp	_	_
12	pigs	pig	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spend** | past | the prodigal son | son's money |  |  |  |  | vn consume-66-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent money=Asset |
| 2 | **end up** | past | the prodigal son *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **feed** | gerund | the prodigal son *not said here* |  | pigs |  |  |  | vn feeding-39.7 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pig=Recipient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His father threw a party when the prodigal came home.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prodigal:x3:1
# text = His father threw a party when the prodigal came home.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	father	father	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	threw	throw	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	party	party	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	9	mark	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	prodigal	prodigal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
10	home	home	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **throw** | past | His father | a party |  |  |  |  | vn throw-17.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent party=Theme |
| 2 | **come** | past | the prodigal |  |  |  |  | home *property* | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Look, the prodigal returns!» said Gran when my cousin finally visited.

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prodigal:x4:1
# text = «Look, the prodigal returns!» said Gran when my cousin finally visited.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Look	look	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	prodigal	prodigal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	returns	return	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
9	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	Gran	Gran	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
11	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	15	advmod	_	_
12	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
13	cousin	cousin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nsubj	_	_
14	finally	finally	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
15	visited	visit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** *in a quote* | infinitive |  | the prodigal returns |  |  |  |  | vn seem-109-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme return=Attribute |
| 2 | **say** *speech: express* | past | Gran |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **visit** | past | my cousin |  |  |  |  | finally *property* | vn meet-36.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The king was prodigal with gold and soon the treasury was empty.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prodigal:x5:1
# text = The king was prodigal with gold and soon the treasury was empty.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	king	king	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	prodigal	prodigal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	gold	gold	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
8	soon	soon	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	12	advmod	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	treasury	treasury	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
11	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
12	empty	empty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the king |  |  |  |  | with gold; prodigal *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | past | the treasury |  |  |  |  | empty, soon *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our teacher asked who we felt sorry for in the story of the prodigal son.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prodigal:x6:1
# text = Our teacher asked who we felt sorry for in the story of the prodigal son.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	asked	ask	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
5	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	felt	feel	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
7	sorry	sorry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
12	of	of	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	prodigal	prodigal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	son	son	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ask** *speech: ask* | past | Our teacher |  |  |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **feel** | past |  |  |  |  |  | for the story of the prodigal son; sorry *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The older brother was angry about the feast for the prodigal.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prodigal:x7:1
# text = The older brother was angry about the feast for the prodigal.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	older	old	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	3	amod	_	_
3	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	angry	angry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	about	about	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	feast	feast	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
9	for	for	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	prodigal	prodigal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the older brother |  |  |  |  | about the feast for the prodigal; angry *property* | tree rules |

<!-- 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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