---
title: seel — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «seel» in the school dictionary: To seel a hawk or falcon was to sew its eyelids shut for a while to tame it. This is not done today and is thought cruel. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# seel

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** falconers, old poem talks, night, book, Hunters · **What happens:** seel, be, tame, not do, think, mean · **To what, where:** hawk, falcon, This, eyes, young hawk, hawks · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«seel» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [seel in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/seel.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To seel a hawk or falcon was to sew its eyelids shut for a while to tame it. This is not done today and is thought cruel.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* To seel a hawk or falcon was to sew its eyelids shut for a while to tame it.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:seel:m1:1
# text = To seel a hawk or falcon was to sew its eyelids shut for a while to tame it.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	seel	seel	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	advcl	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	hawk	hawk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	falcon	falcon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	sew	sew	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	eyelids	eyelid	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	_
12	shut	shut	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	xcomp	_	_
13	for	for	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	while	while	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
16	to	to	PART	TO	_	17	mark	_	_
17	tame	tame	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	advcl	_	_
18	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **seel** | to-infinitive |  | a hawk or falcon |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | past |  |  |  |  | while | sew, shut *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **tame** | to-infinitive |  | falcon |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent it=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.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* This is not done today and is thought cruel.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:seel:m1:2
# text = This is not done today and is thought cruel.
1	This	this	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	done	do	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	today	today	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl:unmarked	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux:pass	_	_
8	thought	think	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	conj	_	_
9	cruel	cruel	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **do** | present · passive |  | This |  |  | today |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Eventuality |
| 2 | **think** *speech: other* | present · passive |  |  |  |  |  | cruel *property* | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V» |

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Seel can mean to close someone's eyes, to blind them.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:seel:m2:1
# text = Seel can mean to close someone's eyes, to blind them.
1	Seel	seel	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	close	close	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	's	's	PART	POS	_	6	case	_	_
8	eyes	eye	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	blind	blind	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	advcl	_	_
12	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can · infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **close** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | someone's eyes |  |  |  |  | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent eye=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In medieval times, falconers would seel a young hawk.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:seel:x1:1
# text = In medieval times, falconers would seel a young hawk.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	medieval	medieval	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	times	time	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	falconers	falconer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
6	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	seel	seel	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	young	young	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	hawk	hawk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **seel** | would | falconers | a young hawk |  |  | time |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The old poem talks of night coming to seel the eyes of day.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:seel:x2:1
# text = The old poem talks of night coming to seel the eyes of day.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	poem	poem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	talks	talk	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
7	coming	come	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	acl	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	seel	seel	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	advcl	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	eyes	eye	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	_
12	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | gerund | the old poem talks of night *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **seel** | to-infinitive | the old poem talks of night *not said here* | the eyes of day |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **talk** |  | night |  |  |  |  |  | nom talk «communication intransitive»: of=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The book explained that seeling hawks is no longer allowed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:seel:x3:1
# text = The book explained that seeling hawks is no longer allowed.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	explained	explain	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
5	seeling	seel	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	10	nsubj:pass	_	_
6	hawks	hawk	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux:pass	_	_
8	no	no	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	longer	long	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	10	advmod	_	_
10	allowed	allow	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	3	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **explain** *speech: assert* | past | the book |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **seel** | gerund |  | hawks |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **allow** | present · passive |  |  |  |  |  | long *property* | vn allow-64.1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Beneficiary |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Is «seel» a typo for «seal» in this sentence?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:seel:x4:1
# text = Is «seel» a typo for «seal» in this sentence?
1	Is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
2	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	seel	seel	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	typo	typo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	seal	seal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	13	det	_	_
13	sentence	sentence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** *in a quote* | present |  |  |  | this sentence |  | seel *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Hunters once seeled falcons to calm them.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:seel:x5:1
# text = Hunters once seeled falcons to calm them.
1	Hunters	hunter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	once	once	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	3	advmod	_	_
3	seeled	seel	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	falcons	falcon	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	calm	calm	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
7	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **seel** | past | Hunters | falcons |  |  |  | once *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **calm** | to-infinitive | Hunters *not said here* | falcons *= falcon* |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus they=Experiencer |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Seel» is one of the rarest words in our dictionary.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:seel:x6:1
# text = «Seel» is one of the rarest words in our dictionary.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Seel	seel	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	rarest	rare	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	9	amod	_	_
9	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	dictionary	dictionary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **seel** *in a quote* | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | present |  | one |  |  |  | of the rarest words in our dictionary | tree rules |

<!-- 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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