---
title: spasm — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «spasm» in the school dictionary: A sudden tightening of a muscle that you cannot control, which may hurt. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# spasm

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, sudden tightening, spasm, He, Hiccups, Gentle stretching · **What happens:** not control, hurt, tighten, cough, burst, feel · **To what, where:** muscle, feeling, spasm, leg, her, spasms · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«spasm» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [spasm in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/spasm.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A sudden tightening of a muscle that you cannot control, which may hurt.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spasm:m1:1
# text = A sudden tightening of a muscle that you cannot control, which may hurt.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	sudden	sudden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	tightening	tightening	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	muscle	muscle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	obj	_	_
8	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
9	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
11	control	control	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
13	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	15	nsubj	_	_
14	may	may	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	15	aux	_	_
15	hurt	hurt	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **control** | can | you | a muscle |  |  |  |  | vn enforce-63 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent that=Theme |
| 2 | **hurt** | may | a sudden tightening of a muscle |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **tighten** |  |  | a muscle |  |  |  |  | nom tightening «act transitive»: of=patient |

<!-- .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 sudden short burst of a feeling or action, like a spasm of coughing or of anger.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spasm:m2:1
# text = A sudden short burst of a feeling or action, like a spasm of coughing or of anger.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	sudden	sudden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	burst	burst	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	feeling	feeling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	action	action	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
11	like	like	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	spasm	spasm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
14	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
15	coughing	cough	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	13	acl	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
17	of	of	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
18	anger	anger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cough** | gerund | a spasm *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn breathe-40.1.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **burst** |  |  | a feeling or action |  |  |  |  | nom burst «act transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He felt a spasm in his leg near the end of the race.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spasm:x1:1
# text = He felt a spasm in his leg near the end of the race.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	felt	feel	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	spasm	spasm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	leg	leg	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
8	near	near	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	end	end	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	race	race	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **feel** | past | He | a spasm |  | his leg | near the end of the race |  | vn hunt-35.1 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent spasm=Theme in leg=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A spasm of coughing stopped her from speaking.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spasm:x2:1
# text = A spasm of coughing stopped her from speaking.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	spasm	spasm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	coughing	coughing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
5	stopped	stop	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	obj	_	_
7	from	from	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
8	speaking	speak	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | past | a spasm of coughing | her *= she* |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality she=Eventuality |
| 2 | **speak** *speech: other* | gerund | a spasm of coughing *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Hiccups are spasms of the muscle under your lungs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spasm:x3:1
# text = Hiccups are spasms of the muscle under your lungs.
1	Hiccups	hiccup	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	spasms	spasm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	muscle	muscle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	under	under	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	lungs	lung	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Hiccups | spasms |  |  |  | of the muscle under your lungs | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Gentle stretching can ease a muscle spasm.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spasm:x4:1
# text = Gentle stretching can ease a muscle spasm.
1	Gentle	gentle	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	stretching	stretching	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	ease	ease	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	muscle	muscle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	spasm	spasm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ease** | can | Gentle stretching | a muscle spasm |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent spasm=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A spasm of fear went through him when the light went out.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spasm:x5:1
# text = A spasm of fear went through him when the light went out.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	spasm	spasm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	fear	fear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
5	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	through	through	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	obl	_	_
8	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	11	advmod	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
11	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	advcl	_	_
12	out	out	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | past | a spasm of fear |  |  |  |  | through him *= he* | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme through he=Initial\_Location |
| 2 | **go out** | past | the light |  |  |  |  | out *property* | vn interact-36.6 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her back went into spasm when she lifted the box.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spasm:x6:1
# text = Her back went into spasm when she lifted the box.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	back	back	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	into	into	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	spasm	spasm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
6	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	8	advmod	_	_
7	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	lifted	lift	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	box	box	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | past | Her back |  |  | spasm |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme into spasm=Initial\_Location |
| 2 | **lift** | past | back | the box |  |  |  |  | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent box=Theme |

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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.

<!-- /div -->

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