---
title: solemn — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «solemn» in the school dictionary: Solemn means very serious and not happy or joking, often in an important or sad moment. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# solemn

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Solemn, solemn promise, She, crowd, minute, face · **What happens:** mean, joke, be, make, look, silence · **To what, where:** serious sincere promise, solemn promise, bad news, us, solemn occasion, truth · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Solemn means very serious and not happy or joking, often in an important or sad moment.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:solemn:m1:1
# text = Solemn means very serious and not happy or joking, often in an important or sad moment.
1	Solemn	solemn	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	very	very	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	serious	serious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	ccomp	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
6	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
7	happy	happy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	joking	joke	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
11	often	often	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
13	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
14	important	important	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	sad	sad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	conj	_	_
17	moment	moment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Solemn |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **joke** *speech: other* | gerund | Solemn *not said here* |  |  |  | moment |  | vn chit\_chat-37.6 «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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A solemn promise is a very serious, sincere promise.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:solemn:m2:1
# text = A solemn promise is a very serious, sincere promise.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	solemn	solemn	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	promise	promise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
6	very	very	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	serious	serious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
9	sincere	sincere	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	promise	promise	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 | **is a** | present | a solemn promise | a serious sincere promise |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She made a solemn promise to look after the puppy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:solemn:x1:1
# text = She made a solemn promise to look after the puppy.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	made	make	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	solemn	solemn	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	promise	promise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	look	look	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl	_	_
8	after	after	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	puppy	puppy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | She | a solemn promise |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent promise=Product |
| 2 | **look** | to-infinitive | She *not said here* | a solemn promise *not said here* |  |  | after the puppy |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The crowd was solemn during the minute's silence.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:solemn:x2:1
# text = The crowd was solemn during the minute's silence.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	crowd	crowd	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	solemn	solemn	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	during	during	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	minute	minute	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	's	PART	POS	_	7	case	_	_
9	silence	silence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the crowd |  |  |  | during the minute's silence | solemn *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **silence** |  | the minute |  |  |  |  |  | nom silence «state transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His face was solemn as he told us the bad news.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:solemn:x3:1
# text = His face was solemn as he told us the bad news.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	face	face	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	solemn	solemn	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	told	tell	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	_
8	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	iobj	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	news	news	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | His face |  |  |  |  | solemn *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* | past | he | the bad news | us |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent we=Recipient news=Topic |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The funeral was a solemn occasion.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:solemn:x4:1
# text = The funeral was a solemn occasion.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	funeral	funeral	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	solemn	solemn	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	occasion	occasion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the funeral | a solemn occasion |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I solemnly swear to tell the truth.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:solemn:x5:1
# text = I solemnly swear to tell the truth.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	solemnly	solemnly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	swear	swear	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	tell	tell	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	truth	truth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **swear** | present | I |  |  |  |  | solemnly *property* | vn conjecture-29.5 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive | I *not said here* | the truth |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent truth=Recipient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Anzac Day begins with a solemn dawn service.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:solemn:x6:1
# text = Anzac Day begins with a solemn dawn service.
1	Anzac	Anzac	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	Day	Day	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	begins	begin	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
6	solemn	solemn	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
7	dawn	dawn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	service	service	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **begin** | present | Anzac Day |  |  |  |  | with a solemn dawn service | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V PP.subeventuality»: agent=Eventuality with service=Subeventuality |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He struck a most solemn blow upon the piece of wood.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:solemn:x7:1
# text = He struck a most solemn blow upon the piece of wood.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	struck	strike	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
4	most	most	ADV	RBS	Degree=Sup	5	advmod	_	_
5	solemn	solemn	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	blow	blow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
7	upon	upon	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	piece	piece	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	wood	wood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **strike** | past | He | a solemn blow |  |  |  | upon the piece of wood | vn hit-18.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent blow=Patient |

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**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.

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