---
title: sluggish — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «sluggish» in the school dictionary: Moving or working slowly, without energy. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# sluggish

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** I, laptop, Lizards, sun, Toy sales, sluggish traffic · **What happens:** move, work, respond, not grow, flow, feel · **To what, where:** much, Lizards, us, living enemy

<!-- .vabout -->
«sluggish» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [sluggish in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/sluggish.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Moving or working slowly, without energy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sluggish:m1:1
# text = Moving or working slowly, without energy.
1	Moving	move	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	working	work	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	conj	_	_
4	slowly	slowly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
6	without	without	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	energy	energy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **move** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | without energy | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **work** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | slowly *property* | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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: of a machine, body or computer — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Slow to respond.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sluggish:m2:1
# text = Slow to respond.
1	Slow	slow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
2	to	to	PART	TO	_	3	mark	_	_
3	respond	respond	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **respond** *speech: other* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn respond-113 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: of money, trade or the economy — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Not growing much; slow.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sluggish:m3:1
# text = Not growing much; slow.
1	Not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	growing	grow	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
3	much	much	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	slow	slow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **grow** | gerund |  | much |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location much=Theme |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: of a river — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Flowing slowly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sluggish:m4:1
# text = Flowing slowly.
1	Flowing	flow	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	slowly	slowly	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **flow** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | slowly *property* | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I feel sluggish after a big Sunday lunch.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sluggish:x1:1
# text = I feel sluggish after a big Sunday lunch.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	feel	feel	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	sluggish	sluggish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
4	after	after	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
6	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
7	Sunday	Sunday	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	lunch	lunch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **feel** | present | I |  |  |  | after a big Sunday lunch | sluggish *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The laptop is sluggish; it needs restarting.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sluggish:x2:1
# text = The laptop is sluggish; it needs restarting.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	laptop	laptop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	sluggish	sluggish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	needs	need	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	parataxis	_	_
8	restarting	restart	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the laptop |  |  |  |  | sluggish *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **need** | present | laptop |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 3 | **restart** *not said to happen* | gerund | laptop *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Lizards are sluggish until the sun warms them.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sluggish:x3:1
# text = Lizards are sluggish until the sun warms them.
1	Lizards	lizard	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	sluggish	sluggish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	until	until	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	sun	sun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	warms	warm	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
8	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Lizards |  |  |  |  | sluggish *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **warm** | present | the sun | Lizards *= lizard* |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent they=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The sluggish river wound slowly through the fields.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sluggish:x4:1
# text = The sluggish river wound slowly through the fields.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	sluggish	sluggish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	river	river	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	wound	wound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	slowly	slowly	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
6	through	through	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	fields	field	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Toy sales were sluggish this year.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sluggish:x5:1
# text = Toy sales were sluggish this year.
1	Toy	toy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	sales	sale	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	sluggish	sluggish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	6	det	_	_
6	year	year	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | Toy sales |  |  |  | year | sluggish *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The sluggish traffic made us late for school.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sluggish:x6:1
# text = The sluggish traffic made us late for school.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	sluggish	sluggish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	traffic	traffic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	obj	_	_
6	late	late	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | the sluggish traffic | us |  |  |  | late *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset we=Product |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He wrestled with the big and sluggish stone, as if it had been a living enemy.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sluggish:x7:1
# text = He wrestled with the big and sluggish stone, as if it had been a living enemy.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	wrestled	wrestle	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
5	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	sluggish	sluggish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	_
8	stone	stone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
10	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	17	mark	_	_
11	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	17	mark	_	_
12	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	nsubj	_	_
13	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	17	aux	_	_
14	been	be	AUX	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	17	cop	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	living	living	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	enemy	enemy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wrestle** | past | He |  |  |  |  | with the big stone | vn battle-36.4-1 «NP V PP.co-agent»: agent=Agent with stone=Co-Agent |
| 2 | **is a** *a condition, not said to happen* | past · perfect | stone | a living enemy |  |  |  |  | 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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