---
title: spooky — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «spooky» in the school dictionary: Spooky means strange and a bit frightening, as if there might be ghosts. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# spooky

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Spooky, old house, We, It, woods, pony · **What happens:** mean, be, look, tell, decorate, draw · **To what, where:** spooky stories, campfire, classroom, same picture, plastic bags, creaking door · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Spooky means strange and a bit frightening, as if there might be ghosts.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spooky:m1:1
# text = Spooky means strange and a bit frightening, as if there might be ghosts.
1	Spooky	spooky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	strange	strange	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	bit	bit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl:unmarked	_	_
7	frightening	frightening	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
9	as	as	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
10	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
11	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	13	expl	_	_
12	might	might	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	13	aux	_	_
13	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	cop	_	_
14	ghosts	ghost	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Spooky |  |  |  |  | strange *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | as ghosts | 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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Spooky can mean strangely surprising, like an odd coincidence.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spooky:m2:1
# text = Spooky can mean strangely surprising, like an odd coincidence.
1	Spooky	spooky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	strangely	strangely	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	surprising	surprising	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
7	like	like	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	odd	odd	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	coincidence	coincidence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can | Spooky |  |  |  |  | surprising *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Easily frightened or nervous, as in a spooky horse.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spooky:m3:1
# text = Easily frightened or nervous, as in a spooky horse.
1	Easily	easily	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	frightened	frightened	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	nervous	nervous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
6	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	spooky	spooky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	horse	horse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The old house on the hill looks spooky at night.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spooky:x1:1
# text = The old house on the hill looks spooky at night.
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	7	nsubj	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	hill	hill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	looks	look	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	spooky	spooky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	xcomp	_	_
9	at	at	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | present | the old house on the hill |  |  |  | night | spooky *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We told spooky stories around the campfire.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spooky:x2:1
# text = We told spooky stories around the campfire.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	told	tell	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	spooky	spooky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	stories	story	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	around	around	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	campfire	campfire	NOUN	NN	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 | **tell** *speech: assert* | past | We | spooky stories |  | the campfire |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent story=Recipient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our classroom is decorated with spooky bats for Halloween.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spooky:x3:1
# text = Our classroom is decorated with spooky bats for Halloween.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	classroom	classroom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	decorated	decorate	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	spooky	spooky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	bats	bat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	Halloween	Halloween	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **decorate** | present · passive |  | Our classroom |  |  |  | with spooky bats; for Halloween | vn illustrate-25.3 «NP V NP PP.theme»: subject=Destination with bat=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It's spooky that we both drew the same picture!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spooky:x4:1
# text = It's spooky that we both drew the same picture!
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	spooky	spooky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
5	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
6	both	both	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	7	nsubj	_	_
7	drew	draw	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	same	same	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	picture	picture	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | It |  |  |  |  | spooky *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **draw** | past | we | the same picture |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent picture=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The woods were spooky and silent.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spooky:x5:1
# text = The woods were spooky and silent.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	woods	wood	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	spooky	spooky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	silent	silent	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the woods |  |  |  |  | spooky *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | the woods *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The pony is spooky and jumps at plastic bags.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spooky:x6:1
# text = The pony is spooky and jumps at plastic bags.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	pony	pony	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	spooky	spooky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	jumps	jump	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	plastic	plastic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	bags	bag	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the pony |  |  |  |  | spooky *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **jump** | present | the pony *not said here* |  |  | plastic bags |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme at bag=Trajectory |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The spookiest part of the film was the creaking door.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spooky:x7:1
# text = The spookiest part of the film was the creaking door.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	spookiest	spooky	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	3	amod	_	_
3	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	creaking	creak	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	amod	_	_
10	door	door	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **creak** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is a** | past | the spookiest part of the film | the creaking door |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- 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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