---
title: slavery — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «slavery» in the school dictionary: Slavery is the cruel system in which people are owned by other people, forced to work for no pay and have no freedom. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# slavery

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Slavery, other people, control, Harriet, Moses, William · **What happens:** be, own, force, work, have, describe · **To what, where:** cruel system, people, other people, freedom, state, hard work

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Slavery is the cruel system in which people are owned by other people, forced to work for no pay and have no freedom.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slavery:m1:1
# text = Slavery is the cruel system in which people are owned by other people, forced to work for no pay and have no freedom.
1	Slavery	slavery	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	cruel	cruel	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	system	system	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	10	obl	_	_
8	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	_
9	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux:pass	_	_
10	owned	own	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl:relcl	_	_
11	by	by	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obl:agent	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
15	forced	force	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	13	acl	_	_
16	to	to	PART	TO	_	17	mark	_	_
17	work	work	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	xcomp	_	_
18	for	for	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	20	det	_	_
20	pay	pay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obl	_	_
21	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
22	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	17	conj	_	_
23	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	24	det	_	_
24	freedom	freedom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Slavery | the cruel system |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **own** | present · passive | other people | people |  | the cruel system |  |  | vn own-100.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot subject=Theme |
| 3 | **force** | participle |  | other people *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn urge-58.1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 4 | **work** | to-infinitive | other people *not said here* |  |  |  |  | for no pay | vn employment-95.3 «NP V PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent for pay=Beneficiary |
| 5 | **have** | present | other people *not said here* | no freedom |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent freedom=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.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Slavery is also the state of being a slave.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slavery:m2:1
# text = Slavery is also the state of being a slave.
1	Slavery	slavery	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	also	also	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	state	state	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	9	cop	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	slave	slave	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Slavery | the state |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | of a slave | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Slavery can describe very hard work or control that feels like being owned, as in "modern slavery".

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slavery:m3:1
# text = Slavery can describe very hard work or control that feels like being owned, as in "modern slavery".
1	Slavery	slavery	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	describe	describe	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	very	very	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	control	control	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
9	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj	_	_
10	feels	feel	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	_
11	like	like	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
12	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	13	aux:pass	_	_
13	owned	own	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
15	as	as	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
16	in	in	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
17	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	modern	modern	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	slavery	slavery	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **describe** | can | Slavery | hard work or control |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent work=Theme |
| 2 | **feel** | present | control |  |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5-2 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 3 | **own** | gerund · passive | control *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Slavery is against the law in every country today.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slavery:x1:1
# text = Slavery is against the law in every country today.
1	Slavery	slavery	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	against	against	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	law	law	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	8	det	_	_
8	country	country	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
9	today	today	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Slavery |  |  | every country | today | against the law | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Harriet Tubman led many people out of slavery.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slavery:x2:1
# text = Harriet Tubman led many people out of slavery.
1	Harriet	Harriet	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	Tubman	Tubman	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	flat	_	_
3	led	lead	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	out	out	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	slavery	slavery	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lead** | past | Harriet | many people |  | slavery |  |  | vn accompany-51.7 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent people=Theme out slavery=Destination |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
(Bible) Moses led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slavery:x3:1
# text = (Bible) Moses led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt.
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Bible	Bible	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
4	Moses	Moses	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	led	lead	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	Israelites	Israelite	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
8	out	out	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	slavery	slavery	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	Egypt	Egypt	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lead** | past | Moses | Bible |  | slavery in Egypt |  |  | vn accompany-51.7 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent israelite=Theme out slavery=Destination |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
William Wilberforce campaigned to end slavery in the British Empire.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slavery:x4:1
# text = William Wilberforce campaigned to end slavery in the British Empire.
1	William	William	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	Wilberforce	Wilberforce	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	flat	_	_
3	campaigned	campaign	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	end	end	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	slavery	slavery	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	British	British	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	Empire	Empire	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **campaign** | past | William |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **end** | to-infinitive | William *not said here* | slavery |  | the British Empire |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality slavery=Eventuality |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
At Passover, Jewish families remember the escape from slavery.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slavery:x5:1
# text = At Passover, Jewish families remember the escape from slavery.
1	At	at	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	Passover	Passover	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	Jewish	Jewish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	families	family	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
6	remember	remember	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	escape	escape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	from	from	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	slavery	slavery	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **remember** | present | Jewish families | the escape |  | Passover |  | from slavery | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent escape=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Modern slavery still happens, and police work to stop it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slavery:x6:1
# text = Modern slavery still happens, and police work to stop it.
1	Modern	modern	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	slavery	slavery	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	still	still	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	happens	happen	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	police	police	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
8	work	work	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	stop	stop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	advcl	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **happen** | present | Modern slavery |  |  |  | still |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **work** | present | police |  |  |  |  |  | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **stop** | to-infinitive | police *not said here* | slavery |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality it=Eventuality |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Frederick Douglass wrote about his life in slavery.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slavery:x7:1
# text = Frederick Douglass wrote about his life in slavery.
1	Frederick	Frederick	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	Douglass	Douglass	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	flat	_	_
3	wrote	write	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	about	about	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	life	life	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	slavery	slavery	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | past | Frederick |  |  | slavery |  | about Frederick's life | vn lecture-37.11-1 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent about life=Topic |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It was collected at last, and the knight released from slavery and misery.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slavery:x8:1
# text = It was collected at last, and the knight released from slavery and misery.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	collected	collect	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	last	last	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	knight	knight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj:pass	_	_
10	released	release	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	parataxis	_	_
11	from	from	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	slavery	slavery	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	misery	misery	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **collect** | past · passive |  | It |  | last |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |
| 2 | **release** | participle · passive |  | the knight |  | slavery and misery |  |  | vn free-10.6.3-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: subject=Source |

<!-- 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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