---
title: sacrifice — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «sacrifice» in the school dictionary: Giving up something you value for something more important or for someone else. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# sacrifice

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, Verb, parents, she, her, Firefighters · **What happens:** give up, value, kill, offer, gain, make · **To what, where:** something, animal, god, piece, purpose, advantage · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«sacrifice» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [sacrifice in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/sacrifice.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Giving up something you value for something more important or for someone else.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sacrifice:m1:1
# text = Giving up something you value for something more important or for someone else.
1	Giving	give	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	csubj	_	_
2	up	up	ADP	RP	_	1	compound:prt	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	value	value	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	acl:relcl	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	nmod	_	_
8	more	more	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	9	advmod	_	_
9	important	important	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	for	for	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	conj	_	_
13	else	else	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give up** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn resign-10.11-2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **value** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer |

<!-- .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.

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her parents made sacrifices so she could go to college.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sacrifice:m1e:1
# text = Her parents made sacrifices so she could go to college.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	parents	parent	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	sacrifices	sacrifice	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	so	so	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
6	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
7	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	go	go	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
9	to	to	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	college	college	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | Her parents | sacrifices |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sacrifice=Product |
| 2 | **go** | could | she |  |  | college |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme to college=Initial\_Location |

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Verb: to give up something valuable for a reason.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sacrifice:m2:1
# text = Verb: to give up something valuable for a reason.
1	Verb	verb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	4	punct	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	give	give	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	up	up	ADP	RP	_	4	compound:prt	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	obj	_	_
7	valuable	valuable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	reason	reason	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give up** | to-infinitive | Verb | something |  |  |  | for a reason | vn resign-10.11-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Source |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In old religions, killing an animal or offering something to a god.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sacrifice:m3:1
# text = In old religions, killing an animal or offering something to a god.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	religions	religion	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	killing	kill	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	conj	_	_
6	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	offering	offer	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	conj	_	_
10	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	obj	_	_
11	to	to	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	god	god	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **kill** | gerund |  | a animal |  |  |  |  | vn remove-10.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent animal=Theme |
| 2 | **offer** | gerund |  | something | a god |  |  |  | vn future\_having-13.3 «NP V NP PP.goal»: agent=Agent something=Theme to god=Goal |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Giving up a piece on purpose to gain an advantage, as in chess.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sacrifice:m4:1
# text = Giving up a piece on purpose to gain an advantage, as in chess.
1	Giving	give	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	up	up	ADP	RP	_	1	compound:prt	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	piece	piece	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	purpose	purpose	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	gain	gain	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
9	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	advantage	advantage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
12	as	as	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	chess	chess	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give up** | gerund |  | a piece |  | purpose |  | as chess | vn resign-10.11-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent piece=Source |
| 2 | **gain** | to-infinitive |  | a advantage |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent advantage=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She sacrificed her break to help a friend with maths.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sacrifice:x1:1
# text = She sacrificed her break to help a friend with maths.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	sacrificed	sacrifice	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	break	break	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	help	help	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	friend	friend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	maths	math	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sacrifice** | past | She | her break |  |  |  |  | vn contribute-13.2-1-1 «NP V NP.theme (PP)»: agent=Agent break=Theme |
| 2 | **help** | to-infinitive | She *not said here* |  | a friend |  |  | with maths | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent friend=Beneficiary with math=Theme |
| 3 | **break** |  | her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom break «event transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Firefighters sometimes sacrifice their own safety to save others.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sacrifice:x2:1
# text = Firefighters sometimes sacrifice their own safety to save others.
1	Firefighters	firefighter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	sometimes	sometimes	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	3	advmod	_	_
3	sacrifice	sacrifice	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
5	own	own	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	safety	safety	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	save	save	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
9	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sacrifice** | present | Firefighters | Firefighters's own safety |  |  |  | sometimes *property* | vn contribute-13.2-1-1 «NP V NP.theme (PP)»: agent=Agent safety=Theme |
| 2 | **save** | to-infinitive | Firefighters *not said here* | others |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent other=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The ancient Greeks made sacrifices to their gods.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sacrifice:x3:1
# text = The ancient Greeks made sacrifices to their gods.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	ancient	ancient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	Greeks	Greek	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	sacrifices	sacrifice	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	gods	god	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | the ancient Greeks | sacrifices |  |  |  | to Greeks's gods | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sacrifice=Product |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He sacrificed his knight to trap the king.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sacrifice:x4:1
# text = He sacrificed his knight to trap the king.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	sacrificed	sacrifice	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	knight	knight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	trap	trap	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	king	king	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sacrifice** | past | He | his knight |  |  |  |  | vn contribute-13.2-1-1 «NP V NP.theme (PP)»: agent=Agent knight=Theme |
| 2 | **trap** | to-infinitive | He *not said here* | the king |  |  |  |  | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent king=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Saving for a bike means sacrificing sweets for a while.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sacrifice:x5:1
# text = Saving for a bike means sacrificing sweets for a while.
1	Saving	save	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	csubj	_	_
2	for	for	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	bike	bike	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	sacrificing	sacrifice	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	xcomp	_	_
7	sweets	sweet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	while	while	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **save** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | for a bike | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent for bike=Source |
| 2 | **mean** | present | Saving |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **sacrifice** *not said to happen* | gerund | Saving *not said here* | sweets |  |  | while |  | vn contribute-13.2-1-1 «NP V NP.theme (PP)»: agent=Agent sweet=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Remembrance Day honours the sacrifice of soldiers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sacrifice:x6:1
# text = Remembrance Day honours the sacrifice of soldiers.
1	Remembrance	Remembrance	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	Day	Day	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	honours	honour	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	sacrifice	sacrifice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	soldiers	soldier	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **honour** | present | Remembrance Day | the sacrifice of soldiers |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **sacrifice** |  |  | soldiers |  |  |  |  | nom sacrifice «act transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She would not sacrifice herself for others.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sacrifice:x7:1
# text = She would not sacrifice herself for others.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	sacrifice	sacrifice	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	herself	herself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	4	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **sacrifice** | would | She | herself *= she* |  |  |  | for others | vn contribute-13.2-1-1 «NP V NP.theme (PP)»: agent=Agent herself=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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