---
title: scornful — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «scornful» in the school dictionary: Showing that you think someone or something is worthless, silly or not good enough. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# scornful

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, Showing, scornful look, She, he, Tom · **What happens:** show, think, be, not be, laugh, mock · **To what, where:** someone, one, scornful laugh, her, chess, sandcastle · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«scornful» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [scornful in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/scornful.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Showing that you think someone or something is worthless, silly or not good enough.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scornful:m1:1
# text = Showing that you think someone or something is worthless, silly or not good enough.
1	Showing	show	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	9	csubj	_	_
2	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
3	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	think	think	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	ccomp	_	_
5	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	obj	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	conj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	worthless	worthless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
11	silly	silly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	conj	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
13	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	14	advmod	_	_
14	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	conj	_	_
15	enough	enough	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **think** *speech: other* | present | you | someone |  |  |  |  | vn wish-62 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot someone=Theme |
| 3 | **is** | present | Showing |  |  |  |  | worthless *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **be** |  | Showing *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **not** **be** |  | Showing *not said here* |  |  |  |  | enough *property* | tree rules |

<!-- .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 -->
A scornful look, laugh or voice is one that mocks or looks down on someone.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scornful:m2:1
# text = A scornful look, laugh or voice is one that mocks or looks down on someone.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	scornful	scornful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	look	look	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	laugh	laugh	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	voice	voice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	0	root	_	_
10	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
11	mocks	mock	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	looks	look	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	conj	_	_
14	down	down	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
15	on	on	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **laugh** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | present | a scornful look or voice | one |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **mock** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **look down** | present |  |  |  |  |  | on someone; down *property* | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent on someone=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She gave a scornful laugh when he said he could beat her at chess.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scornful:x1:1
# text = She gave a scornful laugh when he said he could beat her at chess.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	scornful	scornful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	laugh	laugh	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	8	advmod	_	_
7	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
9	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
10	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
11	beat	beat	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	ccomp	_	_
12	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	obj	_	_
13	at	at	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	chess	chess	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | She | a scornful laugh |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent laugh=Theme |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | he |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **beat** | could | he | her *= she* |  | chess |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location she=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«You call that a sandcastle?» said Tom in a scornful voice.

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scornful:x2:1
# text = «You call that a sandcastle?» said Tom in a scornful voice.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	call	call	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	ccomp	_	_
4	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	sandcastle	sandcastle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
9	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	Tom	Tom	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	scornful	scornful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	voice	voice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** *in a quote* | present | You | a sandcastle |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **say** *speech: ask* | past | Tom |  |  | a scornful voice |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Caterpillar looked at Alice in a scornful way.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scornful:x3:1
# text = The Caterpillar looked at Alice in a scornful way.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Caterpillar	Caterpillar	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	Alice	Alice	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	scornful	scornful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | past | the Caterpillar |  |  |  |  | in a scornful way; at Alice | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent at alice=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't be scornful of other people's ideas; listen first.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scornful:x4:1
# text = Don't be scornful of other people's ideas; listen first.
1	Do	do	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
3	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	cop	_	_
4	scornful	scornful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
6	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	's	PART	POS	_	7	case	_	_
9	ideas	idea	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
11	listen	listen	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	1	parataxis	_	_
12	first	first	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	11	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **not** **is** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | of other people's ideas; scornful *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **listen** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | first *property* | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The older girls were scornful of the little ones' game.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scornful:x5:1
# text = The older girls were scornful of the little ones' game.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	older	old	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	3	amod	_	_
3	girls	girl	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
4	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	scornful	scornful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	ones	one	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	'	's	PART	POS	_	9	case	_	_
11	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the older girls |  |  |  |  | of the little ones's game; scornful *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He was scornful of anyone who supported the other football team.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scornful:x6:1
# text = He was scornful of anyone who supported the other football team.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	scornful	scornful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	anyone	anyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	obl	_	_
6	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	supported	support	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
9	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
10	football	football	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | He |  |  |  |  | of anyone; scornful *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **support** | past |  | the other football team |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer team=Stimulus |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her scornful glance made him feel very small.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scornful:x7:1
# text = Her scornful glance made him feel very small.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	scornful	scornful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	glance	glance	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	feel	feel	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	very	very	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | Her scornful glance | him *= he* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **feel** | infinitive | him *= he* *not said here* |  |  |  |  | small *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 3 | **glance** |  | Her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom glance «act intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
One day as the Lion walked proudly down a forest aisle, and the animals respectfully made way for him, an Ass brayed a scornful remark as he passed.

<!-- fold The tree, 28 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scornful:x8:1
# text = One day as the Lion walked proudly down a forest aisle, and the animals respectfully made way for him, an Ass brayed a scornful remark as he passed.
1	One	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	2	nummod	_	_
2	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	as	as	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	Lion	Lion	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	walked	walk	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	proudly	proudly	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
8	down	down	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	forest	forest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	aisle	aisle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	nsubj	_	_
16	respectfully	respectfully	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
17	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	parataxis	_	_
18	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obj	_	_
19	for	for	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
20	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	24	punct	_	_
22	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
23	Ass	ass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	nsubj	_	_
24	brayed	bray	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	17	conj	_	_
25	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	27	det	_	_
26	scornful	scornful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	27	amod	_	_
27	remark	remark	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	obj	_	_
28	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	30	mark	_	_
29	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	30	nsubj	_	_
30	passed	pass	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	24	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **walk** | past | One day as the Lion |  |  | a forest aisle |  | proudly *property* | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme down aisle=Trajectory |
| 2 | **make** | past | the animals | way |  |  |  | for Lion; respectfully *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent way=Product for he=Beneficiary |
| 3 | **bray** | past | a Ass | a scornful remark |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent remark=Topic |
| 4 | **pass** | past | Ass |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=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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