---
title: smug — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «smug» in the school dictionary: Smug means too pleased with yourself and your own cleverness, luck or goodness, in a way that annoys other people. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# smug

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Smug, way, He, She, teacher, you · **What happens:** mean, annoy, show, look, beat, give · **To what, where:** other people, feeling, everyone, chess, smug smile, her · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«smug» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [smug in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/smug.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Smug means too pleased with yourself and your own cleverness, luck or goodness, in a way that annoys other people.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:smug:m1:1
# text = Smug means too pleased with yourself and your own cleverness, luck or goodness, in a way that annoys other people.
1	Smug	smug	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	too	too	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	pleased	pleased	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	ccomp	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	yourself	yourself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=2|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	4	obl	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
8	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
9	own	own	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	cleverness	cleverness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	luck	luck	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	goodness	goodness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
16	in	in	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	_
19	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	20	nsubj	_	_
20	annoys	annoy	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	18	acl:relcl	_	_
21	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	22	amod	_	_
22	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Smug |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **annoy** | present | a way | other people |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus people=Experiencer |

<!-- .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 look or smile — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
showing that feeling.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:smug:m2:1
# text = showing that feeling.
1	showing	show	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	3	det	_	_
3	feeling	feeling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | gerund |  | that feeling |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent feeling=Recipient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He looked smug after beating everyone at chess.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:smug:x1:1
# text = He looked smug after beating everyone at chess.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	smug	smug	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
4	after	after	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
5	beating	beat	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
6	everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	5	obj	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	chess	chess	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | past | He |  |  |  |  | smug *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **beat** | gerund | He *not said here* | everyone |  | chess |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She gave a smug smile when the teacher praised her.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:smug:x2:1
# text = She gave a smug smile when the teacher praised her.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	smug	smug	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	smile	smile	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	9	advmod	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	praised	praise	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
10	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | She | a smug smile |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent smile=Theme |
| 2 | **praise** | past | the teacher | her *= she* |  |  |  |  | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent she=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't be smug; next time you might lose.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:smug:x3:1
# text = Don't be smug; next time you might lose.
1	Do	do	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
3	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	cop	_	_
4	smug	smug	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
6	next	next	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl:unmarked	_	_
8	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
9	might	might	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	lose	lose	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **not** **is** | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | smug *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **lose** | might | you |  |  |  | time |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cat sat on the warm cushion looking very smug.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:smug:x4:1
# text = The cat sat on the warm cushion looking very smug.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	sat	sit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	warm	warm	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	cushion	cushion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	looking	look	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
9	very	very	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	smug	smug	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sit** | past | the cat |  |  | the warm cushion |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent on cushion=Location |
| 2 | **look** | gerund | the cat *not said here* |  |  |  |  | smug *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I felt a bit smug that I had remembered my umbrella.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:smug:x5:1
# text = I felt a bit smug that I had remembered my umbrella.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	felt	feel	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	bit	bit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl:unmarked	_	_
5	smug	smug	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
6	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
7	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
8	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	remembered	remember	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
10	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	umbrella	umbrella	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **feel** | past | I |  |  |  |  | smug *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **remember** | past · perfect | I | my umbrella |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent umbrella=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The smug rabbit stopped to nap and lost the race to the tortoise.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:smug:x6:1
# text = The smug rabbit stopped to nap and lost the race to the tortoise.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	smug	smug	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	rabbit	rabbit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	stopped	stop	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	nap	nap	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	lost	lose	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	race	race	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
11	to	to	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	tortoise	tortoise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | past | the smug rabbit |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Affector clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **nap** | to-infinitive | the smug rabbit *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn snooze-40.4-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **lose** | past | the smug rabbit *not said here* | the race |  |  |  | to the tortoise | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent race=Eventuality |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He smugly told everyone his score.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:smug:x7:1
# text = He smugly told everyone his score.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	smugly	smugly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	told	tell	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	3	obj	_	_
5	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	score	score	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 | **tell** *speech: assert* | past | He | his score | everyone |  |  | smugly *property* | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent everyone=Recipient score=Topic |
| 2 | **score** |  | his *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom score «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

<!-- 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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