---
title: scrabble — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «scrabble» in the school dictionary: To scratch or grope about quickly with your hands or claws, looking for something or trying to hold on: he scrabbled in his pocket for a coin. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# scrabble

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** he, players, Mole, dog, She, kitten · **What happens:** scratch, grope, look, try, hold on, scrabble · **To what, where:** pocket, something, words, board game, way, door

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To scratch or grope about quickly with your hands or claws, looking for something or trying to hold on: he scrabbled in his pocket for a coin.

<!-- fold The tree, 27 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scrabble:m1:1
# text = To scratch or grope about quickly with your hands or claws, looking for something or trying to hold on: he scrabbled in his pocket for a coin.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	scratch	scratch	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	grope	grope	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
5	about	about	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	quickly	quickly	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	hands	hand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	claws	claw	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
13	looking	look	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	_
14	for	for	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	13	obl	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	trying	try	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	13	conj	_	_
18	to	to	PART	TO	_	19	mark	_	_
19	hold	hold	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	17	xcomp	_	_
20	on	on	ADP	RP	_	19	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	23	punct	_	_
22	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	23	nsubj	_	_
23	scrabbled	scrabble	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
24	in	in	ADP	IN	_	26	case	_	_
25	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	26	nmod:poss	_	_
26	pocket	pocket	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	obl	_	_
27	for	for	ADP	IN	_	29	case	_	_
28	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	29	det	_	_
29	coin	coin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **scratch** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **grope** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | with your hands or claws; quickly *property* | vn touch-20 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent with hand=Instrument |
| 3 | **look** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | for something | vn rummage-35.5 «NP V PP.location PP.theme»: agent=Agent for something=Theme |
| 4 | **try** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 5 | **hold on** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 6 | **scrabble** | past | he |  |  | his pocket |  | for a coin | vn rummage-35.5 «NP V PP.location PP.theme»: agent=Agent in pocket=Location for coin=Theme |

<!-- .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 struggle or hurry to get something.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scrabble:m2:1
# text = To struggle or hurry to get something.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	struggle	struggle	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	hurry	hurry	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **struggle** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn battle-36.4 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **hurry** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **get** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer something=Stimulus |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: Scrabble, a name — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
a board game in which players make words with letter tiles and score points.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scrabble:m3:1
# text = a board game in which players make words with letter tiles and score points.
1	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	board	board	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	obl	_	_
6	players	player	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
7	make	make	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	acl:relcl	_	_
8	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	_
9	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	letter	letter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	tiles	tile	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nmod	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
13	score	score	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	compound	_	_
14	points	point	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | players | words |  | a board game |  | with letter tiles and score points | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset word=Product |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mole scrabbled and scraped his way up to the sunlight.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scrabble:x1:1
# text = Mole scrabbled and scraped his way up to the sunlight.
1	Mole	Mole	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	scrabbled	scrabble	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	scraped	scrape	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
5	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	up	up	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	sunlight	sunlight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **scrabble** | past | Mole |  |  |  |  |  | vn rummage-35.5 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **scrape up** | past | Mole *not said here* | Mole's way |  |  |  | to the sunlight *result* | vn cut-21.1-1 «NP V NP PP.result»: agent=Agent way=Patient to sunlight=Result |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The dog scrabbled at the door.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scrabble:x2:1
# text = The dog scrabbled at the door.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	scrabbled	scrabble	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	door	door	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **scrabble** | past | the dog |  |  | the door |  |  | vn rummage-35.5 «NP V PP.location PP.theme»: agent=Agent at door=Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She scrabbled in her bag for her keys.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scrabble:x3:1
# text = She scrabbled in her bag for her keys.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	scrabbled	scrabble	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	bag	bag	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	keys	key	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **scrabble** | past | She |  |  | her bag |  | for her keys | vn rummage-35.5 «NP V PP.location PP.theme»: agent=Agent in bag=Location for key=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The kitten scrabbled up the curtain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scrabble:x4:1
# text = The kitten scrabbled up the curtain.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	kitten	kitten	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	scrabbled	scrabble	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	up	up	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	curtain	curtain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **scrabble up** | participle | the kitten *not said here* | the curtain |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We played Scrabble after dinner.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scrabble:x5:1
# text = We played Scrabble after dinner.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	played	play	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	Scrabble	Scrabble	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	after	after	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	dinner	dinner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **play** | past | We | Scrabble |  |  | after dinner |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent scrabble=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Quiz» on a triple word score earned lots of points in Scrabble.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scrabble:x6:1
# text = «Quiz» on a triple word score earned lots of points in Scrabble.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Quiz	quiz	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
6	triple	triple	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
7	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	score	score	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
9	earned	earn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	lots	lot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	points	point	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nmod	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	Scrabble	Scrabble	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	12	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **earn** | past | Quiz on a triple word score | lots of points in Scrabble |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent lot=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He scrabbled for a handhold on the rocks.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scrabble:x7:1
# text = He scrabbled for a handhold on the rocks.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	scrabbled	scrabble	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	handhold	handhold	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	rocks	rock	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **scrabble** | past | He |  |  | the rocks |  | for a handhold | vn rummage-35.5 «NP V PP.location PP.theme»: agent=Agent for handhold=Theme on rock=Location |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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