---
title: spanking — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «spanking» in the school dictionary: A punishment by hitting a child's bottom with an open hand, done in the past by parents and some teachers. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# spanking

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** punishment, parents, spanking, naughty child, relatives, new bus · **What happens:** hit, do, spank, use, mean, get · **To what, where:** bottom, punishment, past, spanking, Child, questions · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A punishment by hitting a child's bottom with an open hand, done in the past by parents and some teachers.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spanking:m1:1
# text = A punishment by hitting a child's bottom with an open hand, done in the past by parents and some teachers.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	punishment	punishment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
4	hitting	hit	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	acl	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	child	child	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	's	's	PART	POS	_	6	case	_	_
8	bottom	bottom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
9	with	with	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	open	open	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	hand	hand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	done	do	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
15	in	in	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	past	past	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	_
18	by	by	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	parents	parent	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	obl	_	_
20	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
21	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	22	det	_	_
22	teachers	teacher	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	14	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hit** | gerund | a punishment *not said here* | a child's bottom |  |  |  | with a open hand | vn hit-18.1-1 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent bottom=Patient with hand=Instrument |
| 2 | **do** | participle · passive | parents and some teachers | a punishment |  | the past |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent subject=Eventuality |

<!-- .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: adjective, old-fashioned — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fast, lively and fine: «at a spanking pace», «a spanking breeze».

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spanking:m2:1
# text = Fast, lively and fine: «at a spanking pace», «a spanking breeze».
1	Fast	fast	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
3	lively	lively	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	fine	fine	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
7	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	at	at	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	spanking	spanking	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	pace	pace	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
14	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	spanking	spank	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	17	amod	_	_
17	breeze	breeze	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spank** *in a quote* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn spank-18.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Very, used with «new»: «spanking new» means brand new and shiny.

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spanking:m3:1
# text = Very, used with «new»: «spanking new» means brand new and shiny.
1	Very	very	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
9	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	spanking	spank	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	13	csubj	_	_
11	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	_
13	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
14	brand	brand	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
15	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	ccomp	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	shiny	shiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | with new | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **spank** *in a quote* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | new *property* | vn spank-18.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **mean** | present | spanking |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the old days a naughty child might get a spanking.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spanking:x1:1
# text = In the old days a naughty child might get a spanking.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	days	day	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obl	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	naughty	naughty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	child	child	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
8	might	might	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	spanking	spanking	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | might | a naughty child | a spanking |  |  | day |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer spanking=Stimulus |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Elephant's Child was spanked by all his relatives for asking questions.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spanking:x2:1
# text = The Elephant's Child was spanked by all his relatives for asking questions.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Elephant	Elephant	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	Child	child	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj:pass	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	spanked	spank	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
7	by	by	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	10	det:predet	_	_
9	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	relatives	relative	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	_
11	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
12	asking	ask	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	advcl	_	_
13	questions	question	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spank** | past · passive | Child's relatives | the Elephant's Child |  |  |  |  | vn spank-18.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent subject=Patient |
| 2 | **ask** *speech: ask* | gerund | Child's relatives *not said here* | questions |  |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent question=Recipient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The new bus was spanking new and smelled of paint.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spanking:x3:1
# text = The new bus was spanking new and smelled of paint.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	bus	bus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	spanking	spank	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
6	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	xcomp	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	smelled	smell	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	conj	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	paint	paint	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spank** | past · progressive | the new bus |  |  |  |  | new *property* | vn spank-18.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **smell** | participle | the new bus *not said here* |  |  |  |  | of paint | vn smell\_emission-43.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Location of paint=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The horses trotted along at a spanking pace.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spanking:x4:1
# text = The horses trotted along at a spanking pace.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	horses	horse	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	trotted	trot	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	along	along	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	spanking	spanking	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	pace	pace	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 | **trot** | past | the horses |  |  |  |  | at a spanking pace; along *property* | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme at pace=Trajectory |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A spanking breeze filled the sails of the little boat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spanking:x5:1
# text = A spanking breeze filled the sails of the little boat.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	spanking	spanking	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	breeze	breeze	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	filled	fill	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	sails	sail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	boat	boat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fill** | past | a spanking breeze | the sails of the little boat |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent sail=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Smacking and spanking children is now banned in Scotland and Wales.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spanking:x6:1
# text = Smacking and spanking children is now banned in Scotland and Wales.
1	Smacking	smack	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	advcl	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	spanking	spank	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	conj	_	_
4	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux:pass	_	_
6	now	now	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	7	advmod	_	_
7	banned	ban	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	Scotland	Scotland	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	Wales	Wales	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **smack** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn bump-18.4-1 «NP V together»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **spank** | gerund |  | children |  |  |  |  | vn spank-18.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent child=Patient |
| 3 | **ban** | present · passive |  |  |  | Scotland and Wales | now |  | vn forbid-64.4-1 «NP V S\_ING» |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our school has a spanking new gym.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spanking:x7:1
# text = Our school has a spanking new gym.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	spanking	spank	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	amod	_	_
6	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	gym	gym	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Our school | a spanking new gym |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent gym=Patient |
| 2 | **spank** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn spank-18.3 «NP V NP»: agent=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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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