---
title: sleight — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «sleight» in the school dictionary: Clever, quick skill with the hands, used to trick people, as in magic tricks. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# sleight

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** clever trick, magician, card, Sleight, It, Tricksters · **What happens:** use, trick, fool, make, disappear, take · **To what, where:** people, card, real magic, sleight, street games, book

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Clever, quick skill with the hands, used to trick people, as in magic tricks.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sleight:m1:1
# text = Clever, quick skill with the hands, used to trick people, as in magic tricks.
1	Clever	clever	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	quick	quick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	skill	skill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	hands	hand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	conj	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	trick	trick	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	advcl	_	_
12	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
14	as	as	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
15	in	in	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	magic	magic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	tricks	trick	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **trick** | to-infinitive |  | people |  |  |  | as magic tricks | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent people=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 -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"sleight of hand".

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sleight:m1e:1
# text = "sleight of hand".
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	sleight	sleight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	hand	hand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A clever trick or skill that fools people.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sleight:m2:1
# text = A clever trick or skill that fools people.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	clever	clever	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	trick	trick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	skill	skill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	fools	fool	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	acl:relcl	_	_
8	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fool** | present | a clever trick or skill | people |  |  |  |  | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent people=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The magician made the card disappear by sleight of hand.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sleight:x1:1
# text = The magician made the card disappear by sleight of hand.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	magician	magician	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	card	card	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	disappear	disappear	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
7	by	by	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	sleight	sleight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	hand	hand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | the magician | the card |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **disappear** | infinitive | the card *not said here* |  |  |  |  | by sleight of hand | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sleight of hand takes years of practice.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sleight:x2:1
# text = Sleight of hand takes years of practice.
1	Sleight	sleight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	hand	hand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
4	takes	take	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	practice	practice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | present | Sleight of hand |  |  |  | year |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It was not real magic, just sleight of hand.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sleight:x3:1
# text = It was not real magic, just sleight of hand.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
4	real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	magic	magic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	just	just	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	sleight	sleight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	appos	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	hand	hand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is a** | past | It | real magic |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tricksters use sleight of hand to cheat people at street games.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sleight:x4:1
# text = Tricksters use sleight of hand to cheat people at street games.
1	Tricksters	trickster	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	use	use	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	sleight	sleight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	hand	hand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	cheat	cheat	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
8	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	_
9	at	at	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	street	street	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	games	game	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | Tricksters | sleight of hand |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sleight=Patient |
| 2 | **cheat** | to-infinitive | Tricksters *not said here* | people |  | street games |  |  | vn cheat-10.6.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent people=Source |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He learned some sleight of hand from a book.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sleight:x5:1
# text = He learned some sleight of hand from a book.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	learned	learn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	4	det	_	_
4	sleight	sleight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	hand	hand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
7	from	from	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **learn** | past | He | some sleight of hand |  | a book |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent sleight=Topic from book=Source |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Watch his hands closely to spot the sleight.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sleight:x6:1
# text = Watch his hands closely to spot the sleight.
1	Watch	watch	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	hands	hand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	closely	closely	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	spot	spot	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	sleight	sleight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **watch** | imperative | you *not said here* | his hands |  |  |  | closely *property* | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hand=Theme |
| 2 | **spot** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | the sleight |  |  |  |  | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme sleight=Destination |

<!-- 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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