---
title: retraction — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «retraction» in the school dictionary: A statement saying that something you said or printed before was wrong, taking it back. 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/retraction/)

<!-- 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/) / retraction

# retraction

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** statement, you, cat, plane, newspaper, He · **What happens:** say, print, be, take back, pull back, pull · **To what, where:** something, statement, claws, wheels, retraction, unfair story · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A statement saying that something you said or printed before was wrong, taking it back.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:retraction:m1:1
# text = A statement saying that something you said or printed before was wrong, taking it back.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	statement	statement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	saying	say	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	acl	_	_
4	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	5	nsubj	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	obj	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	printed	print	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	ccomp	_	_
10	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
11	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
12	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	taking	take	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	conj	_	_
15	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	obj	_	_
16	back	back	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | gerund | a statement *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent something=Topic |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **print** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **is** | past |  |  |  |  |  | wrong *property* | tree rules |
| 5 | **take back** | gerund | a statement *not said here* | statement |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Pulling something back in or out of sight, like a cat pulling in its claws or a plane pulling up its wheels.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:retraction:m2:1
# text = Pulling something back in or out of sight, like a cat pulling in its claws or a plane pulling up its wheels.
1	Pulling	pull	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	1	obj	_	_
3	back	back	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
4	in	in	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
6	out	out	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	sight	sight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	like	like	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
13	pulling	pull	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	12	acl	_	_
14	in	in	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	16	nmod:poss	_	_
16	claws	claw	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	obl	_	_
17	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	plane	plane	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	conj	_	_
20	pulling	pull	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	19	acl	_	_
21	up	up	ADP	RP	_	20	compound:prt	_	_
22	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	23	nmod:poss	_	_
23	wheels	wheel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pull back** | gerund |  | something |  |  |  | like a cat | vn push-12-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Theme |
| 2 | **pull** | gerund | a cat *not said here* |  |  | cat's claws or a plane |  |  | vn slide-11.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **pull up** | gerund | a plane *not said here* | plane's wheels |  |  |  |  | vn push-12-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent wheel=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The newspaper printed a retraction and an apology.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:retraction:x1:1
# text = The newspaper printed a retraction and an apology.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	newspaper	newspaper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	printed	print	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	retraction	retraction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	apology	apology	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **print** | past | the newspaper | a retraction and a apology |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent retraction=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He demanded a retraction of the unfair story.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:retraction:x2:1
# text = He demanded a retraction of the unfair story.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	demanded	demand	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	retraction	retraction	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	unfair	unfair	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **demand** *speech: request* | past | He | a retraction of the unfair story |  |  |  |  | vn require-103-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme retraction=Precondition |
| 2 | **retract** |  |  | the unfair story |  |  |  |  | nom retraction «communication transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
After the retraction, everyone knew the rumour was false.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:retraction:x3:1
# text = After the retraction, everyone knew the rumour was false.
1	After	after	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	retraction	retraction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	6	nsubj	_	_
6	knew	know	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	rumour	rumour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
9	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	false	false	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **know** | past | everyone |  |  |  | after the retraction |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **is** | past | the rumour |  |  |  |  | false *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Retraction of a cat's claws keeps them sharp.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:retraction:x4:1
# text = Retraction of a cat's claws keeps them sharp.
1	Retraction	retraction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	's	's	PART	POS	_	4	case	_	_
6	claws	claw	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	nmod	_	_
7	keeps	keep	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	sharp	sharp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | present | Retraction of a cat's claws | claws *= claw* |  |  |  | sharp *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent they=Theme |
| 2 | **retract** |  |  | a cat's claws |  |  |  |  | nom retraction «communication transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Retraction of the plane's wheels happens just after take-off.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:retraction:x5:1
# text = Retraction of the plane's wheels happens just after take-off.
1	Retraction	retraction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	plane	plane	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	's	's	PART	POS	_	4	case	_	_
6	wheels	wheel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	nmod	_	_
7	happens	happen	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	just	just	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
9	after	after	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	take	take	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	off	off	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **happen** | present | Retraction of the plane's wheels |  |  |  | after take off |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **retract** |  |  | the plane's wheels |  |  |  |  | nom retraction «communication transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The scientists issued a retraction when they found a mistake.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:retraction:x6:1
# text = The scientists issued a retraction when they found a mistake.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	scientists	scientist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	issued	issue	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	retraction	retraction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	8	advmod	_	_
7	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	found	find	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	mistake	mistake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **issue** | past | the scientists | a retraction |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location retraction=Theme |
| 2 | **find** | past | scientists *= scientist* | a mistake |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent mistake=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: [retracted](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/retracted/)
- next →: [retrain](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/retrain/)
- ↑ back to [R in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/)