---
title: soothe — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «soothe» in the school dictionary: To soothe someone is to make them calm when they are upset, angry or worried. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# soothe

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** they, Dad, Cool running water, Soft music, I, Honey · **What happens:** soothe, be, calm, feel, cry, rock · **To what, where:** someone, pain, crying baby, her, burn, me · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To soothe someone is to make them calm when they are upset, angry or worried.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:soothe:m1:1
# text = To soothe someone is to make them calm when they are upset, angry or worried.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	soothe	soothe	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	csubj	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	calm	calm	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
9	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	12	mark	_	_
10	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
11	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
12	upset	upset	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	angry	angry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	conj	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	worried	worried	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **soothe** | to-infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus someone=Experiencer |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | make *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **calm** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 4 | **is** | present | they |  |  |  |  | upset *property* | tree rules |
| 5 | **be** |  | they *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 6 | **be** |  | they *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | 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 -->
To soothe pain is to make it feel less bad.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:soothe:m2:1
# text = To soothe pain is to make it feel less bad.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	soothe	soothe	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	csubj	_	_
3	pain	pain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	feel	feel	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
9	less	less	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	10	advmod	_	_
10	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **soothe** | to-infinitive |  | pain |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus pain=Experiencer |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | make *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **feel** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | bad *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad soothed the crying baby by rocking her.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:soothe:x1:1
# text = Dad soothed the crying baby by rocking her.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	soothed	soothe	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	crying	cry	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	amod	_	_
5	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	rocking	rock	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
8	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **soothe** | past | Dad | the crying baby |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus baby=Experiencer |
| 2 | **cry** *speech: express* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **rock** | gerund | Dad *not said here* | her *= she* |  |  |  |  | vn modes\_of\_being\_with\_motion-47.3 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location she=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Cool running water soothes a burn.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:soothe:x2:1
# text = Cool running water soothes a burn.
1	Cool	cool	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
2	running	run	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	amod	_	_
3	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	soothes	soothe	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	burn	burn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **run** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **soothe** | present | Cool running water | a burn |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus burn=Experiencer |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Soft music soothes me when I'm worried.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:soothe:x3:1
# text = Soft music soothes me when I'm worried.
1	Soft	soft	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	music	music	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	soothes	soothe	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	8	advmod	_	_
6	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	'm	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	worried	worried	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **soothe** | present | Soft music | me |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus i=Experiencer |
| 2 | **is** | present | I |  |  |  |  | worried *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Honey and lemon can soothe a sore throat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:soothe:x4:1
# text = Honey and lemon can soothe a sore throat.
1	Honey	honey	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	lemon	lemon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	conj	_	_
4	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	soothe	soothe	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	sore	sore	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	throat	throat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **soothe** | can | Honey and lemon | a sore throat |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus throat=Experiencer |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The nurse spoke in a soothing voice.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:soothe:x5:1
# text = The nurse spoke in a soothing voice.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	nurse	nurse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	spoke	speak	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	soothing	soothing	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	voice	voice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **speak** *speech: other* | past | the nurse |  |  | a soothing voice |  |  | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Take slow breaths to soothe yourself when you're angry.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:soothe:x6:1
# text = Take slow breaths to soothe yourself when you're angry.
1	Take	take	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	slow	slow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	breaths	breath	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	soothe	soothe	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
6	yourself	yourself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=2|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	5	obj	_	_
7	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	10	mark	_	_
8	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	're	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	angry	angry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | imperative | you *not said here* | slow breaths |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent breath=Theme |
| 2 | **soothe** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | yourself |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus yourself=Experiencer |
| 3 | **is** | present | you |  |  |  |  | angry *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
As they rode on, the stranger did his best to soothe her.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:soothe:x7:1
# text = As they rode on, the stranger did his best to soothe her.
1	As	as	SCONJ	IN	_	3	mark	_	_
2	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	rode	ride	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	advcl	_	_
4	on	on	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	stranger	stranger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
9	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	best	good	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	0	root	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	soothe	soothe	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	csubj	_	_
13	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ride on** | past | they |  |  |  |  |  | vn nonvehicle-51.4.2 «NP.agent V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **soothe** | to-infinitive |  | her *= she* |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus she=Experiencer |

<!-- 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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