---
title: sneering — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «sneering» in the school dictionary: Sneering describes a voice, look or remark that is mocking and shows someone thinks others are worthless. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# sneering

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** that, someone, others, Sneering, he, act · **What happens:** sneer, describe, look, remark, mock, show · **To what, where:** voice, ing form, act, unkind way, sneering voice, spelling · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sneering describes a voice, look or remark that is mocking and shows someone thinks others are worthless.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sneering:m1:1
# text = Sneering describes a voice, look or remark that is mocking and shows someone thinks others are worthless.
1	Sneering	sneer	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	nsubj	_	_
2	describes	describe	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	voice	voice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	look	look	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	remark	remark	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
9	that	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	11	nsubj	_	_
10	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
11	mocking	mock	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	8	ccomp	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	shows	show	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
14	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	15	nsubj	_	_
15	thinks	think	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	ccomp	_	_
16	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	nsubj	_	_
17	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	18	cop	_	_
18	worthless	worthless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sneer** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **describe** | present |  | a voice |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent voice=Theme |
| 3 | **look** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 4 | **remark** *speech: assert* | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 5 | **mock** | present · progressive | that |  |  |  |  |  | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 6 | **show** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 7 | **think** *speech: other* | present | someone |  |  |  |  |  | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 8 | **is** | present | others |  |  |  |  | worthless *property* | tree rules |

<!-- .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 -->
Sneering is the -ing form of «sneer»: he was sneering at us.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sneering:m2:1
# text = Sneering is the -ing form of «sneer»: he was sneering at us.
1	Sneering	sneering	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
4	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	ing	ing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	form	form	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	sneer	sneer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
12	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
13	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	14	aux	_	_
14	sneering	sneer	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	advcl	_	_
15	at	at	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Sneering | the ing form |  |  |  | of sneer | tree rules |
| 2 | **sneer** | past · progressive | he |  |  |  |  | at us | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sneering as a noun is the act of mocking in that unkind way.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sneering:m3:1
# text = Sneering as a noun is the act of mocking in that unkind way.
1	Sneering	sneer	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	csubj	_	_
2	as	as	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	noun	noun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	act	act	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
9	mocking	mock	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	acl	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	13	det	_	_
12	unkind	unkind	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sneer** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | as a noun | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | present | Sneering | the act |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **mock** | gerund | the act *not said here* |  |  | that unkind way |  |  | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He answered in a sneering voice.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sneering:x1:1
# text = He answered in a sneering voice.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	answered	answer	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	sneering	sneering	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	voice	voice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **answer** *speech: assert* | past | He |  |  | a sneering voice |  |  | vn reciprocate-112-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The sneering boy laughed at my spelling.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sneering:x2:1
# text = The sneering boy laughed at my spelling.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	sneering	sneering	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	laughed	laugh	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	spelling	spelling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **laugh** | past | the sneering boy |  |  | my spelling |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **spell** |  | my |  |  |  |  |  | nom spelling «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stop sneering at your sister.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sneering:x3:1
# text = Stop sneering at your sister.
1	Stop	stop	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	sneering	sneer	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	1	xcomp	_	_
3	at	at	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	sister	sister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Affector clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **sneer** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | at your sister | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her sneering remark hurt my feelings.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sneering:x4:1
# text = Her sneering remark hurt my feelings.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	sneering	sneering	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	remark	remark	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	hurt	hurt	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	feelings	feeling	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hurt** | past | Her sneering remark | my feelings |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer feeling=Patient |
| 2 | **remark** |  | Her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom remark «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The sneering guard would not let them pass.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sneering:x5:1
# text = The sneering guard would not let them pass.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	sneering	sneering	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	guard	guard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
5	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	6	advmod	_	_
6	let	let	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	pass	pass	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **let** | would | the sneering guard | them *= they* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **pass** | infinitive | them *= they* *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There was a lot of sneering when he fell over, but his friends helped him up.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sneering:x6:1
# text = There was a lot of sneering when he fell over, but his friends helped him up.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	was	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	lot	lot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
5	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	sneering	sneer	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	acl	_	_
7	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	9	advmod	_	_
8	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	fell	fall	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	advcl	_	_
10	over	over	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
12	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
13	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	14	nmod:poss	_	_
14	friends	friend	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	nsubj	_	_
15	helped	help	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	_
16	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	obj	_	_
17	up	up	ADP	RP	_	15	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | past | a lot |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **sneer** | gerund | a lot *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **fall over** | past | lot |  |  |  |  | over *property* | vn occur-48.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **help up** | past | lot's friends |  | lot |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent he=Beneficiary |

<!-- 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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