---
title: serfdom — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «serfdom» in the school dictionary: Serfdom was a system, mainly in the Middle Ages, in which poor farm workers called serfs were tied to a lord's land and could not leave it. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# serfdom

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Serfdom, poor farm workers, peasants, Russian tsar, Serfs · **What happens:** be, call, tie, not leave, mean, end · **To what, where:** system, serfs, poor farm workers, Serfdom, state, land · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Serfdom was a system, mainly in the Middle Ages, in which poor farm workers called serfs were tied to a lord's land and could not leave it.

<!-- fold The tree, 28 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:serfdom:m1:1
# text = Serfdom was a system, mainly in the Middle Ages, in which poor farm workers called serfs were tied to a lord's land and could not leave it.
1	Serfdom	serfdom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	system	system	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
6	mainly	mainly	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	Middle	Middle	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	flat	_	_
10	Ages	Age	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	4	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	20	obl	_	_
14	poor	poor	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
15	farm	farm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	compound	_	_
16	workers	worker	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	nsubj:pass	_	_
17	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	16	acl	_	_
18	serfs	serf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	xcomp	_	_
19	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	20	aux:pass	_	_
20	tied	tie	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl	_	_
21	to	to	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
22	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
23	lord	lord	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	's	's	PART	POS	_	23	case	_	_
25	land	land	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	obl	_	_
26	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	29	cc	_	_
27	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	29	aux	_	_
28	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	29	advmod	_	_
29	leave	leave	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	20	conj	_	_
30	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	29	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | Serfdom | a system |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **call** | participle | poor farm workers *not said here* | serfs |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **tie** | past · passive |  | poor farm workers |  | a system |  | to a lord's land | vn mix-22.1-2 «NP V NP PP.co-patient»: subject=Patient to land=Co-Patient |
| 4 | **not** **leave** | could |  | Serfdom |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Serfdom means the state of being a serf.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:serfdom:m2:1
# text = Serfdom means the state of being a serf.
1	Serfdom	serfdom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	state	state	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	8	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	serf	serf	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Serfdom | the state |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent state=Topic |
| 2 | **is** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | of a serf | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Under serfdom, peasants could not leave the lord's land.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:serfdom:x1:1
# text = Under serfdom, peasants could not leave the lord's land.
1	Under	under	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	serfdom	serfdom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	peasants	peasant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
5	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
6	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
7	leave	leave	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	lord	lord	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	's	's	PART	POS	_	9	case	_	_
11	land	land	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **leave** | could | peasants | the lord's land |  | serfdom |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent land=Theme under serfdom=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Serfdom slowly ended in England after the Black Death.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:serfdom:x2:1
# text = Serfdom slowly ended in England after the Black Death.
1	Serfdom	serfdom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	slowly	slowly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	ended	end	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	England	England	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
6	after	after	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	Black	Black	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	flat	_	_
9	Death	Death	PROPN	NNP	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 | **end** | past | Serfdom |  |  | England | after the Black Death | slowly *property* | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Russian tsar abolished serfdom, freeing millions of people.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:serfdom:x3:1
# text = The Russian tsar abolished serfdom, freeing millions of people.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	Russian	Russian	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	tsar	tsar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	abolished	abolish	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	amod	_	_
5	serfdom	serfdom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	freeing	free	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	acl	_	_
8	millions	million	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **abolish** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn remove-10.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **free** | gerund | the Russian tsar and abolished serfdom *not said here* | millions of people |  |  |  |  | vn free-10.6.3-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Causer million=Source |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Serfs paid the lord with work and crops.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:serfdom:x4:1
# text = Serfs paid the lord with work and crops.
1	Serfs	serf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	paid	pay	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	lord	lord	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	crops	crop	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pay** | past | Serfs | the lord |  |  |  | with work and crops | vn pay-68-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent lord=Asset |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The feudal system was built on serfdom.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:serfdom:x5:1
# text = The feudal system was built on serfdom.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	feudal	feudal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	system	system	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	built	build	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	serfdom	serfdom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **build** | past · passive |  | the feudal system |  | serfdom |  |  | vn base-97.1 «NP V NP PP.source»: subject=Theme on serfdom=Source |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Many peasants rebelled against serfdom.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:serfdom:x6:1
# text = Many peasants rebelled against serfdom.
1	Many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	peasants	peasant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
3	rebelled	rebel	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	against	against	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	serfdom	serfdom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **rebel** | participle |  | Many peasants *not said here* |  |  |  | against serfdom | vn rebel-71.2-1 «NP V PP.maleficiary»: agent=Agent against serfdom=Maleficiary |

<!-- 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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