---
title: spite — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «spite» in the school dictionary: Spite is a wish to hurt, annoy or upset someone on purpose: he broke it out of spite. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# spite

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Spite, he, we, She, you, witch · **What happens:** be, hurt, annoy, upset, break, spite · **To what, where:** wish, someone, purpose, Spite, them, rain · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«spite» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [spite in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/spite.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Spite is a wish to hurt, annoy or upset someone on purpose: he broke it out of spite.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spite:m1:1
# text = Spite is a wish to hurt, annoy or upset someone on purpose: he broke it out of spite.
1	Spite	spite	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	wish	wish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	hurt	hurt	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	annoy	annoy	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	conj	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	upset	upset	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	conj	_	_
11	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	10	obj	_	_
12	on	on	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	purpose	purpose	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	16	punct	_	_
15	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	16	nsubj	_	_
16	broke	break	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	parataxis	_	_
17	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	16	obj	_	_
18	out	out	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	of	of	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
20	spite	spite	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Spite | a wish |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **hurt** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **annoy** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 4 | **upset** | infinitive |  | someone |  | purpose |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus someone=Experiencer |
| 5 | **break** | past | he | Spite |  | spite |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer it=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 -->
To spite someone is to do something just to annoy or upset them.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spite:m2:1
# text = To spite someone is to do something just to annoy or upset them.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	spite	spite	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
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	do	do	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	obj	_	_
8	just	just	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	annoy	annoy	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	upset	upset	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	10	conj	_	_
13	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spite** | to-infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | do *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **annoy** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 4 | **upset** | infinitive |  | them *= they* |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus they=Experiencer |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In spite of means «even though» or «without being stopped by»: we played in spite of the rain.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spite:m3:1
# text = In spite of means «even though» or «without being stopped by»: we played in spite of the rain.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	spite	spite	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	2	nmod	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	even	even	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
7	though	though	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	13	punct	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
10	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	without	without	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
12	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	13	aux:pass	_	_
13	stopped	stop	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	ccomp	_	_
14	by	by	ADP	IN	_	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	18	punct	_	_
17	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	18	nsubj	_	_
18	played	play	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	13	parataxis	_	_
19	in	in	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
20	spite	spite	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obl	_	_
21	of	of	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
22	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
23	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | spite |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **stop by** *in a quote* | gerund · passive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **play** | past | we |  |  | spite of the rain |  |  | vn performance-26.7-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **spite** |  |  | the rain |  |  |  |  | nom spite «feeling transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She hid my pencil case out of spite.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spite:x1:1
# text = She hid my pencil case out of spite.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	hid	hide	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
4	pencil	pencil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	case	case	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	out	out	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	spite	spite	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hide** | past | She | my pencil case |  | spite |  |  | vn concealment-16-1 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent case=Patient out spite=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In spite of the rain, we went to the beach.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spite:x2:1
# text = In spite of the rain, we went to the beach.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	spite	spite	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
7	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	to	to	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	beach	beach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | past | we |  |  | spite of the rain |  | to the beach | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme to beach=Initial\_Location |
| 2 | **spite** |  |  | the rain |  |  |  |  | nom spite «feeling transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He refused to help just to spite his brother.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spite:x3:1
# text = He refused to help just to spite his brother.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	refused	refuse	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	help	help	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	just	just	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	spite	spite	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
8	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **refuse** | past | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn reject-77.2 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **not** **help** | to-infinitive | He *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 3 | **spite** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | He *not said here* | his brother |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't let spite ruin your friendship.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spite:x4:1
# text = Don't let spite ruin your friendship.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	let	let	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	spite	spite	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	ruin	ruin	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	friendship	friendship	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **let** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | spite |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **ruin** | infinitive | spite *not said here* | your friendship |  |  |  |  | vn destroy-44 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent friendship=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We won in spite of having only ten players.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spite:x5:1
# text = We won in spite of having only ten players.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	won	win	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	spite	spite	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
5	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	having	have	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	acl	_	_
7	only	only	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	ten	ten	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	players	player	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **win** | past | We |  |  | spite |  |  | vn succeed-74-2 «NP V PP.eventuality S\_ING»: agent=Agent in spite=Eventuality |
| 2 | **have** | gerund | spite *not said here* | ten players |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent player=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't cut off your nose to spite your face.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spite:x6:1
# text = Don't cut off your nose to spite your face.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	cut	cut	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	off	off	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	nose	nose	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	spite	spite	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
9	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	face	face	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 | **not** **cut off** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | your nose |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Affector nose=Eventuality |
| 2 | **spite** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | your face |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The witch laughed with spite.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spite:x7:1
# text = The witch laughed with spite.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	witch	witch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	laughed	laugh	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	spite	spite	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **laugh** | past | the witch |  |  |  |  | with spite | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our Mayblossom will be happy in spite of her predictions.’

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spite:x8:1
# text = Our Mayblossom will be happy in spite of her predictions.’
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	Mayblossom	Mayblossom	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	cop	_	_
5	happy	happy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	spite	spite	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	predictions	prediction	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	’	'	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | future | Our Mayblossom |  |  | spite of Mayblossom's predictions |  | happy *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **spite** |  |  | Mayblossom's predictions |  |  |  |  | nom spite «feeling transitive»: of=patient |
| 3 | **predict** |  | Mayblossom |  |  |  |  |  | nom prediction «cognition transitive»: poss=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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