---
title: ruffian — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «ruffian» in the school dictionary: A rough, violent or lawless person, especially a man or a boy who causes trouble. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# ruffian

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** boy, gang, weasels, You, young ruffians, old man · **What happens:** cause, stop, be, ruffian, get off, shout · **To what, where:** trouble, coach, road, band, lawn, hardened ruffian · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A rough, violent or lawless person, especially a man or a boy who causes trouble.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ruffian:m1:1
# text = A rough, violent or lawless person, especially a man or a boy who causes trouble.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
2	rough	rough	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	violent	violent	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	lawless	lawless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	_
7	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	appos	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	_
15	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	16	nsubj	_	_
16	causes	cause	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	acl:relcl	_	_
17	trouble	trouble	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cause** | present | a boy | trouble |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition trouble=Patient |

<!-- .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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A gang of ruffians stopped the coach on the road.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ruffian:x1:1
# text = A gang of ruffians stopped the coach on the road.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	gang	gang	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	ruffians	ruffian	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
5	stopped	stop	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	coach	coach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	road	road	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | past | a gang of ruffians | the coach |  | the road |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality coach=Eventuality |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The weasels and stoats were a band of ruffians.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ruffian:x2:1
# text = The weasels and stoats were a band of ruffians.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	weasels	weasel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	stoats	stoat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	_
5	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	band	band	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	ruffians	ruffian	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the weasels and stoats | a band |  |  |  | of ruffians | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«You young ruffians, get off my lawn!» shouted the old man.

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ruffian:x3:1
# text = «You young ruffians, get off my lawn!» shouted the old man.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
3	young	young	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	ruffians	ruffian	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	acl	_	_
7	off	off	ADP	RP	_	6	compound:prt	_	_
8	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	lawn	lawn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
12	shouted	shout	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ruffian** *in a quote* |  | You |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **get off** *in a quote* | infinitive | young ruffians *not said here* | my lawn |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer lawn=Stimulus |
| 3 | **shout** *speech: express* | past | the old man |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The magistrate called Toad a hardened ruffian.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ruffian:x4:1
# text = The magistrate called Toad a hardened ruffian.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	magistrate	magistrate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	Toad	Toad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	xcomp	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	hardened	harden	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	amod	_	_
7	ruffian	ruffian	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | participle | the magistrate *not said here* | a hardened ruffian |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **harden** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ruffians attacked travellers in the Middle Ages.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ruffian:x5:1
# text = Ruffians attacked travellers in the Middle Ages.
1	Ruffians	ruffian	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	attacked	attack	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	travellers	traveller	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	Middle	Middle	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	flat	_	_
7	Ages	Age	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **attack** | past | Ruffians | travellers |  |  | in the Middle Ages |  | vn attack-60.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent traveller=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The pirates were cruel ruffians.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ruffian:x6:1
# text = The pirates were cruel ruffians.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	pirates	pirate	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	cruel	cruel	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	ruffians	ruffian	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the pirates | cruel ruffians |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The ruffians were appropriately named Rawbones and Woudkill.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ruffian:x7:1
# text = The ruffians were appropriately named Rawbones and Woudkill.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	ruffians	ruffian	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
4	appropriately	appropriately	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	named	name	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	Rawbones	Rawbones	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	xcomp	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	Woudkill	Woudkill	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **name** | past · passive |  | the ruffians |  |  |  | appropriately *property* | vn appoint-29.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |

<!-- 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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