---
title: snigger — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «snigger» in the school dictionary: To snigger is to laugh quietly in a rude or unkind way, often at someone's mistake or at something naughty. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# snigger

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** someone, snigger, usual American word, snicker, boys, teacher · **What happens:** snigger, be, mistake, hide, mean, trip · **To what, where:** rude way, small hidden laugh, snicker, same, class, sniggers · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To snigger is to laugh quietly in a rude or unkind way, often at someone's mistake or at something naughty.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:snigger:m1:1
# text = To snigger is to laugh quietly in a rude or unkind way, often at someone's mistake or at something naughty.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	snigger	snigger	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	laugh	laugh	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	quietly	quietly	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
9	rude	rude	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	unkind	unkind	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	conj	_	_
12	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
14	often	often	ADV	RB	_	18	advmod	_	_
15	at	at	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
16	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	18	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	's	's	PART	POS	_	16	case	_	_
18	mistake	mistake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	parataxis	_	_
19	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
20	at	at	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
21	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	22	compound	_	_
22	naughty	naughty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **snigger** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  | a rude way |  | laugh, quietly *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **mistake** |  | someone |  |  |  |  |  | nom mistake «act intransitive»: poss=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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A snigger is that small, half-hidden laugh.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:snigger:m2:1
# text = A snigger is that small, half-hidden laugh.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	snigger	snigger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
4	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
5	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	half	half	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing|NumForm=Word|NumType=Frac	9	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	hidden	hide	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	amod	_	_
10	laugh	laugh	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hide** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn concealment-16-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | present | a snigger | small hidden laugh |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: US — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The usual American word is «snicker», which means the same.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:snigger:m3:1
# text = The usual American word is «snicker», which means the same.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	usual	usual	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	American	American	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	snicker	snicker	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
11	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	parataxis	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	same	same	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** *in a quote* | present | the usual American word | snicker |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **mean** | present | snicker | the same |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent same=Topic |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The boys sniggered when the teacher tripped.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:snigger:x1:1
# text = The boys sniggered when the teacher tripped.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	boys	boy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	sniggered	snigger	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	7	advmod	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	tripped	trip	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **snigger** | past | the boys |  |  |  |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **trip** | past | the teacher |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A snigger went round the class.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:snigger:x2:1
# text = A snigger went round the class.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	snigger	snigger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	round	round	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | past | a snigger |  |  | the class |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme round class=Initial\_Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Please don't snigger when someone reads aloud.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:snigger:x3:1
# text = Please don't snigger when someone reads aloud.
1	Please	please	INTJ	UH	_	4	discourse	_	_
2	do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	snigger	snigger	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	7	mark	_	_
6	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	nsubj	_	_
7	reads	read	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	_
8	aloud	aloud	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **snigger** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **read** | present | someone |  |  |  |  | aloud *property* | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She heard sniggers from the back row.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:snigger:x4:1
# text = She heard sniggers from the back row.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	heard	hear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	sniggers	snigger	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	back	back	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	row	row	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hear** | past | She | sniggers |  | the back row |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent snigger=Topic from row=Source |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He sniggered at the rude word in the book.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:snigger:x5:1
# text = He sniggered at the rude word in the book.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	sniggered	snigger	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	rude	rude	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **snigger** | past | He |  |  | the rude word in the book |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum told us off for sniggering in church.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:snigger:x6:1
# text = Mum told us off for sniggering in church.
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	told	tell	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	iobj	_	_
4	off	off	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
5	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	sniggering	snigger	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	church	church	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell off** *speech: assert* | past | Mum |  | us |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent we=Recipient |
| 2 | **snigger** | gerund | Mum *not said here* |  |  |  |  | in church | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent in church=Theme |

<!-- 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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