---
title: scepticism — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «scepticism» in the school dictionary: Doubt about whether something is true or will work. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# scepticism

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Doubt, habit, good evidence, we, good scientist, She · **What happens:** be, work, not believe, not be, meet, use · **To what, where:** things, idea, claim, scepticism, evidence, advert

<!-- .vabout -->
«scepticism» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [scepticism in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/scepticism.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Doubt about whether something is true or will work.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scepticism:m1:1
# text = Doubt about whether something is true or will work.
1	Doubt	doubt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
2	about	about	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	whether	whether	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	1	nmod	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	true	true	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	work	work	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Doubt about something |  |  |  |  | true *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **work** | future | Doubt about something *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn employment-95.3 «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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The habit of not believing things until there is good evidence.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scepticism:m2:1
# text = The habit of not believing things until there is good evidence.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	habit	habit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
4	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	believing	believe	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	acl	_	_
6	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
7	until	until	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
8	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	9	expl	_	_
9	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	ccomp	_	_
10	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	evidence	evidence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **believe** | gerund | the habit *not said here* | things |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** | present | good evidence |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The idea that we cannot be sure of some or any knowledge.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scepticism:m3:1
# text = The idea that we cannot be sure of some or any knowledge.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
4	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
5	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
7	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	cop	_	_
8	sure	sure	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	acl	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	8	ccomp	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
12	any	any	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	13	det	_	_
13	knowledge	knowledge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is** | can | we | the idea *not said here* |  |  |  | sure *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The claim was met with scepticism.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scepticism:x1:1
# text = The claim was met with scepticism.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	claim	claim	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	met	meet	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	scepticism	scepticism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **meet** | past · passive |  | the claim |  |  |  | with scepticism | vn satisfy-55.7 «NP V NP PP»: subject=Theme with scepticism=Instrument |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A good scientist uses scepticism and checks the evidence.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scepticism:x2:1
# text = A good scientist uses scepticism and checks the evidence.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	scientist	scientist	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	uses	use	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	scepticism	scepticism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	checks	check	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	evidence	evidence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | a good scientist | scepticism |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent scepticism=Patient |
| 2 | **check** | present | a good scientist *not said here* | the evidence |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent evidence=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She viewed the advert with scepticism.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scepticism:x3:1
# text = She viewed the advert with scepticism.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	viewed	view	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	advert	advert	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	scepticism	scepticism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **view** | past | She | the advert |  |  |  | with scepticism | vn sight-30.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer advert=Stimulus |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Healthy scepticism helps you spot fake news.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scepticism:x4:1
# text = Healthy scepticism helps you spot fake news.
1	Healthy	healthy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	scepticism	scepticism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	helps	help	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	spot	spot	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	fake	fake	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	news	news	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | present | Healthy scepticism | you |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent you=Beneficiary clause=Theme |
| 2 | **spot** | infinitive | you *not said here* | fake news |  |  |  |  | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme news=Destination |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His scepticism about ghosts disappeared when the door creaked.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scepticism:x5:1
# text = His scepticism about ghosts disappeared when the door creaked.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	scepticism	scepticism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	about	about	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	ghosts	ghost	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
5	disappeared	disappear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	9	advmod	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	door	door	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	creaked	creak	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **disappear** | past | His scepticism about ghosts |  |  |  |  |  | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **creak** | past | the door |  |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Philosophers argue about scepticism and what we can really know.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scepticism:x6:1
# text = Philosophers argue about scepticism and what we can really know.
1	Philosophers	philosopher	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	argue	argue	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	about	about	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	scepticism	scepticism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
6	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	10	obj	_	_
7	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
8	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
9	really	really	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	know	know	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **argue** *speech: disagree* | present | Philosophers |  |  |  |  | about scepticism | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V PP.theme S»: agent=Agent about scepticism=Topic |
| 2 | **know** | can | we |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer what=Stimulus |

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**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.

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