---
title: serpent — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «serpent» in the school dictionary: A snake, especially a big one. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# serpent

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** knight, Sailors, sea serpents, serpent, cunning serpent, you · **What happens:** not trust, fight, tell, hiss, slide, trick · **To what, where:** sly tricky person, giant serpent, tales, rock, hero, story · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A snake, especially a big one.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:serpent:m1:1
# text = A snake, especially a big one.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	snake	snake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
4	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	one	one	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In myths and stories, a huge snake-like monster such as a sea serpent.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:serpent:m2:1
# text = In myths and stories, a huge snake-like monster such as a sea serpent.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	myths	myth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	stories	story	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
7	huge	huge	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
8	snake	snake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	like	like	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	monster	monster	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	_
12	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	16	case	_	_
13	as	as	ADP	IN	_	12	fixed	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	compound	_	_
16	serpent	serpent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A sly, tricky person who cannot be trusted.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:serpent:m3:1
# text = A sly, tricky person who cannot be trusted.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
2	sly	sly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	tricky	tricky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj:pass	_	_
7	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
9	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	aux:pass	_	_
10	trusted	trust	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **trust** | can · passive |  | a sly tricky person |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The knight fought a giant serpent.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:serpent:x1:1
# text = The knight fought a giant serpent.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	knight	knight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	fought	fight	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	giant	giant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	serpent	serpent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fight** | past | the knight | a giant serpent |  |  |  |  | vn battle-36.4-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent serpent=Co-Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sailors told tales of sea serpents.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:serpent:x2:1
# text = Sailors told tales of sea serpents.
1	Sailors	sailor	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	told	tell	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	tales	tale	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	serpents	serpent	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | past | Sailors | tales of sea serpents |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent tale=Recipient |
| 2 | **tell** |  | sea serpents |  |  |  |  |  | nom tale «communication intransitive»: of=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The serpent hissed and slid under a rock.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:serpent:x3:1
# text = The serpent hissed and slid under a rock.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	serpent	serpent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	hissed	hiss	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	slid	slide	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
6	under	under	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	rock	rock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hiss** | past | the serpent |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **slide** | past | the serpent *not said here* |  |  | a rock |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme under rock=Trajectory |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the story, a cunning serpent tricks the hero.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:serpent:x4:1
# text = In the story, a cunning serpent tricks the hero.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	cunning	cunning	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	serpent	serpent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	tricks	trick	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	hero	hero	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **trick** | present | a cunning serpent | the hero |  | the story |  |  | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hero=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The serpent was 9 metres long, three times as long as the boat.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:serpent:x5:1
# text = The serpent was 9 metres long, three times as long as the boat.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	serpent	serpent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	9	9	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	metres	metre	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl:unmarked	_	_
6	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	times	time	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl:unmarked	_	_
10	as	as	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
11	long	long	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	9	advmod	_	_
12	as	as	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	boat	boat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the serpent |  |  |  | time | 9 metres *obl:unmarked*; long *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The river curved like a serpent through the valley.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:serpent:x6:1
# text = The river curved like a serpent through the valley.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	river	river	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	curved	curve	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	like	like	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	serpent	serpent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	through	through	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	valley	valley	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **curve** | participle |  | the river *not said here* |  | the valley |  | like a serpent | vn knead-26.5 «NP.material V PP.product»: agent=Material |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
But look! the serpent himself is coming!"

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:serpent:x7:1
# text = But look! the serpent himself is coming!"
1	But	but	CCONJ	CC	_	2	cc	_	_
2	look	look	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	serpent	serpent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
6	himself	himself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	8	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	coming	come	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **come** | present · progressive | the serpent |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

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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.

<!-- /div -->

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