---
title: retort — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «retort» in the school dictionary: To answer quickly and sharply, often in an angry or clever way. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/retort/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [R](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/) / retort

# retort

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** You, he, She, mouse, alchemist, rude retort · **What happens:** answer, use, distil, start, retort, have · **To what, where:** angry way, long bent neck, it, clever retort, liquid, him · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To answer quickly and sharply, often in an angry or clever way.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:retort:m1:1
# text = To answer quickly and sharply, often in an angry or clever way.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	answer	answer	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
3	quickly	quickly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	sharply	sharply	ADV	RB	_	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
7	often	often	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
9	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
10	angry	angry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	clever	clever	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	conj	_	_
13	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **answer** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive |  |  |  | a angry way |  | quickly *property* | vn reciprocate-112-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A quick, sharp or clever reply.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:retort:m2:1
# text = A quick, sharp or clever reply.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
2	quick	quick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	sharp	sharp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	clever	clever	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	_
7	reply	reply	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A glass container with a long bent neck used for heating and distilling liquids.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:retort:m3:1
# text = A glass container with a long bent neck used for heating and distilling liquids.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	glass	glass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	container	container	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
6	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
7	bent	bent	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	neck	neck	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
9	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	acl	_	_
10	for	for	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	heating	heating	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
13	distilling	distil	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	14	amod	_	_
14	liquids	liquid	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | participle |  | a long bent neck *not said here* |  |  |  | for heating and distilling liquids | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **distil** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1 «NP V NP.source»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«You started it!» he retorted.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:retort:x1:1
# text = «You started it!» he retorted.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	started	start	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	advcl	_	_
4	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
7	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	retorted	retort	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **start** *in a quote* | past | You | it |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Eventuality |
| 2 | **retort** *speech: other* | past | he |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She had a clever retort for every joke.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:retort:x2:1
# text = She had a clever retort for every joke.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	clever	clever	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	retort	retort	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	8	det	_	_
8	joke	joke	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 | **have** | past | She | a clever retort |  |  |  | for every joke | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent retort=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«I'm not scared,» retorted the mouse.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:retort:x3:1
# text = «I'm not scared,» retorted the mouse.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	'm	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	scared	scared	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	_
8	retorted	retort	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	mouse	mouse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is** *in a quote* | present | the mouse *= mouse* |  |  |  |  | scared *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **retort** *speech: other* | past | the mouse |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The alchemist heated the liquid in a glass retort.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:retort:x4:1
# text = The alchemist heated the liquid in a glass retort.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	alchemist	alchemist	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	heated	heat	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	liquid	liquid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	glass	glass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	retort	retort	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **heat** | past | the alchemist | the liquid |  |  |  | in a glass retort | vn cooking-45.3 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent liquid=Patient in retort=Instrument |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His rude retort got him in trouble.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:retort:x5:1
# text = His rude retort got him in trouble.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	rude	rude	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	retort	retort	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	got	get	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	trouble	trouble	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | past | His rude retort | him *= he* |  | trouble |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer he=Stimulus |
| 2 | **retort** |  | His *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom retort «communication intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
When teased, she retorted with a smile.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:retort:x6:1
# text = When teased, she retorted with a smile.
1	When	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	2	mark	_	_
2	teased	tease	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	retorted	retort	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	smile	smile	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tease** | participle | she *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn ferret-35.6 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **retort** *speech: other* | past | she |  |  |  |  | with a smile | vn say-37.7-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"You do muddy it!" retorted the Wolf savagely.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:retort:x7:1
# text = "You do muddy it!" retorted the Wolf savagely.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
3	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	muddy	muddy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	parataxis	_	_
5	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
8	retorted	retort	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	Wolf	Wolf	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
11	savagely	savagely	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **retort** *speech: other* | past | the Wolf |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1 «NP V S-Quote»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [retiring](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/retiring/)
- next →: [retrace](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/retrace/)
- ↑ back to [R in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/)