---
title: ridicule — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «ridicule» in the school dictionary: Ridicule is unkind laughing at someone or something to make them look silly or stupid. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# ridicule

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Ridicule, them, other children, She, her, idea · **What happens:** be, laugh, make, look, ridicule, mock · **To what, where:** someone, them, cruel way, him, ridicule, dream

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ridicule is unkind laughing at someone or something to make them look silly or stupid.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ridicule:m1:1
# text = Ridicule is unkind laughing at someone or something to make them look silly or stupid.
1	Ridicule	ridicule	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	unkind	unkind	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	laughing	laugh	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	advcl	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	obl	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	conj	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	acl	_	_
11	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	_
12	look	look	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	xcomp	_	_
13	silly	silly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	xcomp	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	stupid	stupid	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Ridicule |  |  |  |  | unkind *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **laugh** | gerund | Ridicule *not said here* |  |  | someone |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **make** | to-infinitive | Ridicule *not said here* | them *= they* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **look** | infinitive | them *= they* *not said here* |  |  |  |  | silly *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

<!-- .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 ridicule someone is to make fun of them in a cruel or mocking way.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ridicule:m2:1
# text = To ridicule someone is to make fun of them in a cruel or mocking way.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	ridicule	ridicule	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	csubj	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	fun	fun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nmod	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
12	cruel	cruel	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	mocking	mock	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	12	conj	_	_
15	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ridicule** | to-infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  |  | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent someone=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  | a cruel way |  | make *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **mock** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The other children ridiculed him for his old shoes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ridicule:x1:1
# text = The other children ridiculed him for his old shoes.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	ridiculed	ridicule	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|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	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
8	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	shoes	shoe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ridicule** | past | the other children | him *= he* |  |  |  | for his old shoes | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Agent he=Theme for shoe=Attribute |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She faced ridicule but never gave up her dream.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ridicule:x2:1
# text = She faced ridicule but never gave up her dream.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	faced	face	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	ridicule	ridicule	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
5	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	6	advmod	_	_
6	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
7	up	up	ADP	RP	_	6	compound:prt	_	_
8	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	dream	dream	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **face** | past | She | ridicule |  |  |  |  | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP.destination»: agent=Agent ridicule=Destination |
| 2 | **not** **give up** | past | She *not said here* | her dream |  |  |  |  | vn resign-10.11-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent dream=Source |
| 3 | **dream** |  | her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom dream «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The inventor's idea was met with ridicule, but it worked.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ridicule:x3:1
# text = The inventor's idea was met with ridicule, but it worked.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	inventor	inventor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj:pass	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	met	meet	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	ridicule	ridicule	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
12	worked	work	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **meet** | past · passive |  | the inventor's idea |  |  |  | with ridicule | vn satisfy-55.7 «NP V NP PP»: subject=Theme with ridicule=Instrument |
| 2 | **work** | past | idea |  |  |  |  |  | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ridicule can hurt more than a push.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ridicule:x4:1
# text = Ridicule can hurt more than a push.
1	Ridicule	ridicule	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	hurt	hurt	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	3	obj	_	_
5	than	than	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	push	push	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hurt** | can | Ridicule | more |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer more=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't ridicule someone for making a mistake.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ridicule:x5:1
# text = Don't ridicule someone for making a mistake.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	ridicule	ridicule	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	obj	_	_
5	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	making	make	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	acl	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	mistake	mistake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **ridicule** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | someone |  |  |  |  | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent someone=Theme |
| 2 | **make** | gerund |  | a mistake |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset mistake=Product |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His silly hat made him an object of ridicule.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ridicule:x6:1
# text = His silly hat made him an object of ridicule.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	silly	silly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	hat	hat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	made	make	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	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	object	object	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	ridicule	ridicule	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | His silly hat | a object of ridicule | him *= he* |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP NP»: agent=Asset he=Beneficiary object=Product |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
THE OLIVE-TREE ridiculed the Fig-Tree because, while she was green all the year round, the Fig-Tree changed its leaves with the seasons.

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ridicule:x7:1
# text = THE OLIVE-TREE ridiculed the Fig-Tree because, while she was green all the year round, the Fig-Tree changed its leaves with the seasons.
1	THE	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	OLIVE	olive	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	TREE	TREE	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	ridiculed	ridicule	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
7	Fig	Fig	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	Tree	Tree	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
10	because	because	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADP	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
12	while	while	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
13	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
14	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	15	cop	_	_
15	green	green	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	parataxis	_	_
16	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	18	det:predet	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	year	year	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obl:unmarked	_	_
19	round	round	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	25	punct	_	_
21	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
22	Fig	Fig	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	24	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	22	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	Tree	Tree	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	25	nsubj	_	_
25	changed	change	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
26	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	27	nmod:poss	_	_
27	leaves	leaf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	25	obj	_	_
28	with	with	ADP	IN	_	30	case	_	_
29	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	30	det	_	_
30	seasons	season	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	25	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ridicule** | past | the OLIVE TREE | the Fig Tree |  |  |  |  | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tree=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | past | TREE |  |  |  | year | green, round *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **change** | past | the Fig Tree | its leaves |  |  | season |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent leaf=Patient |

<!-- 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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