---
title: spook — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «spook» in the school dictionary: A spook is a ghost. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# spook

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** spook, loud bang, bang, you, We, film · **What happens:** be, spook, startle, use, not use, say · **To what, where:** ghost, someone, them, spy, Spook, old house · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«spook» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [spook in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/spook.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A spook is a ghost.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spook:m1:1
# text = A spook is a ghost.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	spook	spook	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	ghost	ghost	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a spook | a ghost |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .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 spook someone or an animal is to frighten or startle them suddenly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spook:m2:1
# text = To spook someone or an animal is to frighten or startle them suddenly.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	spook	spook	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	advcl	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
5	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	frighten	frighten	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	startle	startle	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	9	conj	_	_
12	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	obj	_	_
13	suddenly	suddenly	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A spook is a spy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spook:m3:1
# text = A spook is a spy.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	spook	spook	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	spy	spy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a spook | a spy |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Spook" has also been used as a nasty insult for Black people; it should not be used about people.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spook:m4:1
# text = "Spook" has also been used as a nasty insult for Black people; it should not be used about people.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Spook	spook	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj:pass	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
4	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
5	also	also	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
6	been	be	AUX	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
8	as	as	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	nasty	nasty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	insult	insult	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
12	for	for	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	Black	black	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	20	punct	_	_
16	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	20	nsubj:pass	_	_
17	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	20	aux	_	_
18	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	20	advmod	_	_
19	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	20	aux:pass	_	_
20	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	conj	_	_
21	about	about	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
22	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present · perfect · passive |  | Spook |  |  |  | as a nasty insult for Black people | vn spend\_time-104 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: subject=Duration as insult=Attribute |
| 2 | **not** **use** | should · passive |  | Spook |  |  |  | about people | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The old house was said to be full of spooks.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spook:x1:1
# text = The old house was said to be full of spooks.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	said	say	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
7	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	cop	_	_
8	full	full	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	xcomp	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	spooks	spook	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past · passive |  | the old house |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: subject=Topic |
| 2 | **is** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | of spooks; full *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The loud bang spooked the horse and it ran off.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spook:x2:1
# text = The loud bang spooked the horse and it ran off.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	loud	loud	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	bang	bang	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	spooked	spook	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	horse	horse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	ran	run	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
10	off	off	ADP	RP	_	9	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spook** | participle | the loud bang | the horse |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus horse=Experiencer |
| 2 | **run off** | past | bang |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't creep up behind me — you spooked me!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spook:x3:1
# text = Don't creep up behind me — you spooked me!
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	creep	creep	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	up	up	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	behind	behind	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	obl	_	_
7	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
8	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	spooked	spook	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
10	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **creep up** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | behind me | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme behind i=Trajectory |
| 2 | **spook** | past | you | me |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus i=Experiencer |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We dressed up as spooks for Halloween.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spook:x4:1
# text = We dressed up as spooks for Halloween.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	dressed	dress	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	up	up	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	as	as	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	spooks	spook	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	Halloween	Halloween	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dress up** | past | We |  |  |  |  | as spooks; for Halloween | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The film was about spooks working for the secret service.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spook:x5:1
# text = The film was about spooks working for the secret service.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	about	about	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	spooks	spook	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
6	working	work	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	acl	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	secret	secret	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	service	service	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the film |  |  |  |  | about spooks | tree rules |
| 2 | **work** | gerund | spooks *not said here* |  |  |  |  | for the secret service | vn employment-95.3 «NP V PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent for service=Beneficiary |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cat was spooked by its own reflection.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spook:x6:1
# text = The cat was spooked by its own reflection.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	spooked	spook	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
7	own	own	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	reflection	reflection	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spook** | past · passive | cat's own reflection | the cat |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus subject=Experiencer |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Walk calmly near horses so you don't spook them.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spook:x7:1
# text = Walk calmly near horses so you don't spook them.
1	Walk	walk	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	calmly	calmly	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
3	near	near	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	horses	horse	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	_
5	so	so	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
7	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
9	spook	spook	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
10	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **walk** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | near horses; calmly *property* | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme near horse=Trajectory |
| 2 | **not** **spook** | present · do-support | you | horses *= horse* |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus they=Experiencer |

<!-- 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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