---
title: spinster — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «spinster» in the school dictionary: A spinster is a woman who has never married, usually an older one (old-fashioned). Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# spinster

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** spinster, job, old papers spinster, Great aunt, marriage record, spinsters · **What happens:** be, not marry, spin, live, love, travel · **To what, where:** woman, thread, word, old story, spinster, her · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A spinster is a woman who has never married, usually an older one (old-fashioned).

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spinster:m1:1
# text = A spinster is a woman who has never married, usually an older one (old-fashioned).
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	spinster	spinster	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	woman	woman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj:pass	_	_
7	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
8	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
9	married	marry	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
11	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
12	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	older	old	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	14	amod	_	_
14	one	one	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	appos	_	_
15	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	fashioned	fashioned	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a spinster | a woman |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **marry** | present · perfect · passive |  | a woman |  |  |  |  | vn amalgamate-22.2-3-1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=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}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: old use — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A spinster was once a woman whose job was spinning thread.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spinster:m2:1
# text = A spinster was once a woman whose job was spinning thread.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	spinster	spinster	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	once	once	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	6	advmod	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	woman	woman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	whose	whose	PRON	WP$	Poss=Yes|PronType=Rel	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	job	job	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
9	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	spinning	spin	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	acl:relcl	_	_
11	thread	thread	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | a spinster | a woman |  |  |  | once *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **spin** | past · progressive | job | thread |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent thread=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In old legal papers spinster was the word for an unmarried woman (law, old).

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spinster:m3:1
# text = In old legal papers spinster was the word for an unmarried woman (law, old).
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
3	legal	legal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	papers	paper	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	compound	_	_
5	spinster	spinster	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	for	for	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	unmarried	unmarried	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	woman	woman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	_
13	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	law	law	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
16	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | old papers spinster | the word |  |  |  | for a unmarried woman | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the old story, the spinster lived alone with her cats.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spinster:x1:1
# text = In the old story, the spinster lived alone with her cats.
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	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	spinster	spinster	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	lived	live	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	alone	alone	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
10	with	with	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	cats	cat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** | past | the spinster |  |  | the old story |  | with spinster's cats; alone *property* | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in story=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Great-aunt Molly was a spinster all her life and loved travelling.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spinster:x2:1
# text = Great-aunt Molly was a spinster all her life and loved travelling.
1	Great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	1	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	aunt	aunt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	Molly	Molly	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	appos	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	spinster	spinster	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	10	det:predet	_	_
9	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	life	life	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	loved	love	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	_
13	travelling	travel	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	12	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | Great aunt | a spinster |  |  |  | Molly's life *nmod* | tree rules |
| 2 | **love** | past | Great aunt *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 3 | **travel** *not said to happen* | gerund | Great aunt *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The marriage record called her «spinster» because she had not been married before.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spinster:x3:1
# text = The marriage record called her «spinster» because she had not been married before.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	marriage	marriage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	record	record	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	called	call	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	obj	_	_
6	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	spinster	spinster	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	_
9	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
10	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj:pass	_	_
11	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	14	aux	_	_
12	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	14	advmod	_	_
13	been	be	AUX	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	14	aux:pass	_	_
14	married	marry	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	advcl	_	_
15	before	before	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | past | the marriage record |  | her *= she* |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent she=Recipient |
| 2 | **not** **marry** | past · perfect · passive |  | record |  |  |  | before *property* | vn amalgamate-22.2-3-1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Long ago spinsters spun wool into thread.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spinster:x4:1
# text = Long ago spinsters spun wool into thread.
1	Long	long	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	2	advmod	_	_
2	ago	ago	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
3	spinsters	spinster	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	spun	spin	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	wool	wool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
6	into	into	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	thread	thread	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spin** | past | spinsters | wool |  | thread |  | ago *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP PP.trajectory»: agent=Agent wool=Theme into thread=Trajectory |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Calling someone «an old spinster» is rude.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spinster:x5:1
# text = Calling someone «an old spinster» is rude.
1	Calling	call	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	9	csubj	_	_
2	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	1	obj	_	_
3	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	spinster	spinster	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	rude	rude	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | gerund |  |  | someone |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent someone=Recipient |
| 2 | **is** | present | Calling |  |  |  |  | rude *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The book is about two spinster sisters who run a shop.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spinster:x6:1
# text = The book is about two spinster sisters who run a shop.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	about	about	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
6	spinster	spinster	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	sisters	sister	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
8	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
9	run	run	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	shop	shop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the book | two spinster sisters |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **run** | present | two spinster sisters | a shop |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme shop=Trajectory |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
“Oh dear, oh dear,” cried Wendy, “I’m sure I sometimes think that spinsters are to be envied.”

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spinster:x7:1
# text = “Oh dear, oh dear,” cried Wendy, “I’m sure I sometimes think that spinsters are to be envied.”
1	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Oh	oh	INTJ	UH	_	3	discourse	_	_
3	dear	dear	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
5	oh	oh	INTJ	UH	_	6	discourse	_	_
6	dear	dear	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
9	cried	cry	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	Wendy	Wendy	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
12	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	’m	be	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	conj	_	_
15	sure	sure	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	xcomp	_	_
16	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	18	nsubj	_	_
17	sometimes	sometimes	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	18	advmod	_	_
18	think	think	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	ccomp	_	_
19	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	24	mark	_	_
20	spinsters	spinster	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	24	nsubj:pass	_	_
21	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	24	aux:pass	_	_
22	to	to	PART	TO	_	24	mark	_	_
23	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	24	aux:pass	_	_
24	envied	envy	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	18	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cry** *speech: express* | past |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **be** *in a quote* | present | I |  |  |  |  | sure *property* | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **think** *speech: other* *in a quote* | present | I |  |  |  |  | sometimes *property* | vn consider-29.9-2 «NP V how S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 4 | **envy** *in a quote* | present · passive |  | spinsters |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: subject=Stimulus |

<!-- 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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