---
title: spear — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «spear» in the school dictionary: A long weapon or tool with a pointed tip, used for throwing or stabbing, especially for hunting or fishing. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# spear

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** hunters, He, She, We, people, spear · **What happens:** use, throw, stab, push, point, spear · **To what, where:** long weapon, hunting, something, food, spears, wood

<!-- .vabout -->
«spear» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [spear in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/spear.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A long weapon or tool with a pointed tip, used for throwing or stabbing, especially for hunting or fishing.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spear:m1:1
# text = A long weapon or tool with a pointed tip, used for throwing or stabbing, especially for hunting or fishing.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	weapon	weapon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	tool	tool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	pointed	pointed	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	tip	tip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
11	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl:relcl	_	_
12	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
13	throwing	throw	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	11	advcl	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	stabbing	stab	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
17	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	19	advmod	_	_
18	for	for	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	hunting	hunting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	_
20	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
21	fishing	fishing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | participle |  | a long weapon or tool with a pointed tip *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **throw** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **stab** | gerund |  | hunting or fishing |  |  |  |  | vn poison-42.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hunting=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 long thin pointed shoot of a plant, such as a spear of asparagus.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spear:m2:1
# text = A long thin pointed shoot of a plant, such as a spear of asparagus.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
2	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
3	thin	thin	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
4	pointed	pointed	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	shoot	shoot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	plant	plant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
10	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	13	case	_	_
11	as	as	ADP	IN	_	10	fixed	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	spear	spear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
14	of	of	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	asparagus	asparagus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To push something pointed into something, such as spearing food with a fork.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spear:m3:1
# text = To push something pointed into something, such as spearing food with a fork.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	push	push	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	pointed	point	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	into	into	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=SCONJ	10	mark	_	_
9	as	as	ADP	IN	_	8	fixed	_	_
10	spearing	spear	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	acl	_	_
11	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
12	with	with	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	fork	fork	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **push** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn carry-11.4-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Theme |
| 2 | **point** | participle |  |  |  | something |  |  | vn wink-40.3.1 «NP V PP.recipient»: agent=Agent into something=Recipient |
| 3 | **spear** | gerund |  | food |  |  |  | with a fork | vn carve-21.2-3 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent food=Patient with fork=Instrument |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To catch or hunt with a spear.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spear:m4:1
# text = To catch or hunt with a spear.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	catch	catch	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	hunt	hunt	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	spear	spear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **catch** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **hunt** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | with a spear | vn hunt-35.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The hunters made spears from wood and sharp stones.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spear:x1:1
# text = The hunters made spears from wood and sharp stones.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	hunters	hunter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	spears	spear	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	wood	wood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	sharp	sharp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	stones	stone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | the hunters | spears |  | wood and sharp stones |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V PP»: agent=Asset spear=Product from wood=Material |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He threw the spear as far as he could.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spear:x2:1
# text = He threw the spear as far as he could.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	threw	throw	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	spear	spear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	as	as	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	far	far	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	2	advmod	_	_
7	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
8	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **throw** | past | He | the spear |  |  |  | far *property* | vn throw-17.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent spear=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She speared a sausage with her fork.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spear:x3:1
# text = She speared a sausage with her fork.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	speared	spear	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	sausage	sausage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	fork	fork	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spear** | past | She | a sausage |  |  |  | with her fork | vn carve-21.2-3 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent sausage=Patient with fork=Instrument |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We had asparagus spears with dinner.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spear:x4:1
# text = We had asparagus spears with dinner.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	asparagus	asparagus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	spears	spear	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	dinner	dinner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | We | asparagus spears |  |  |  | with dinner | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent spear=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some people go spear fishing near the reef.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spear:x5:1
# text = Some people go spear fishing near the reef.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	go	go	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	spear	spear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	fishing	fishing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	near	near	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	reef	reef	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 | **go** | present | some people | spear fishing |  | the reef |  |  | vn meander-47.7 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location fishing=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The warrior's spear had a bronze tip.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spear:x6:1
# text = The warrior's spear had a bronze tip.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	warrior	warrior	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	spear	spear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	bronze	bronze	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	tip	tip	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 | **have** | past | the warrior's spear | a bronze tip |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tip=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The heron speared a fish with its sharp beak.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spear:x7:1
# text = The heron speared a fish with its sharp beak.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	heron	heron	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	speared	spear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
8	sharp	sharp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	beak	beak	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spear** | past | the heron | a fish |  |  |  | with heron's sharp beak | vn carve-21.2-3 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent fish=Patient with beak=Instrument |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the museum we saw a spear used thousands of years ago.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spear:x8:1
# text = In the museum we saw a spear used thousands of years ago.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	museum	museum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
4	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	saw	see	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	spear	spear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	acl	_	_
9	thousands	thousand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obl:unmarked	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nmod	_	_
12	ago	ago	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **see** | past | we | a spear |  | the museum |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer spear=Stimulus |
| 2 | **use** | participle |  | a spear *not said here* |  |  |  | ago *property* | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They snatched spears and shields from their foes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spear:x9:1
# text = They snatched spears and shields from their foes.
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	snatched	snatch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	spears	spear	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	shields	shield	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	conj	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	foes	foe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **snatch** | past | They | spears and shields |  | shields's foes |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent spear=Theme from foe=Source |

<!-- 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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