---
title: starvation — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «starvation» in the school dictionary: Serious suffering or death caused by having little or no food for a long time. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# starvation

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** I, many people, Aid agencies, Holodomor, millions, Animals · **What happens:** cause, have, be, die, say, work · **To what, where:** Serious suffering, little, starvation, war zone, hunger · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«starvation» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [starvation in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/starvation.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Serious suffering or death caused by having little or no food for a long time.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:starvation:m1:1
# text = Serious suffering or death caused by having little or no food for a long time.
1	Serious	serious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	suffering	suffering	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	death	death	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
5	caused	cause	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
6	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	having	have	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	advcl	_	_
8	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	obj	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
10	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	11	det	_	_
11	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	_
12	for	for	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cause** | participle |  | Serious suffering or death *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn result-27.2 «NP V PP»: agent=Precondition |
| 2 | **have** | gerund |  | little or no food |  |  | time |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent little=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: informal, exaggerated — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Being very hungry: «I'm dying of starvation!» said jokingly before tea.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:starvation:m2:1
# text = Being very hungry: «I'm dying of starvation!» said jokingly before tea.
1	Being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	cop	_	_
2	very	very	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	hungry	hungry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
5	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	'm	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	dying	die	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	parataxis	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	starvation	starvation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
13	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
14	jokingly	jokingly	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
15	before	before	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	tea	tea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	13	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | hungry *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **die** *in a quote* | present · progressive | I |  |  |  |  | of starvation | vn die-42.4-1 «NP V PP.cause»: agent=Patient of starvation=Causer |
| 3 | **say** *speech: assert* | past |  |  |  |  | before tea | jokingly *property* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
During the famine, many people died of starvation.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:starvation:x1:1
# text = During the famine, many people died of starvation.
1	During	during	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	famine	famine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
7	died	die	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	starvation	starvation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **die** | past | many people |  |  |  | during the famine | of starvation | vn die-42.4-1 «NP V PP.cause»: agent=Patient of starvation=Causer |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Aid agencies are working to prevent starvation in the war zone.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:starvation:x2:1
# text = Aid agencies are working to prevent starvation in the war zone.
1	Aid	aid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	agencies	agency	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	working	work	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	prevent	prevent	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
7	starvation	starvation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	war	war	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	zone	zone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **work** | present · progressive | Aid agencies |  |  |  |  |  | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **prevent** | to-infinitive | Aid agencies *not said here* | starvation |  | the war zone |  |  | vn forbid-64.4-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Causer starvation=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Holodomor caused the starvation of millions of Ukrainians.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:starvation:x3:1
# text = The Holodomor caused the starvation of millions of Ukrainians.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Holodomor	Holodomor	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	caused	cause	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	starvation	starvation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	millions	million	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	Ukrainians	Ukrainian	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cause** | past | the Holodomor | the starvation of millions of Ukrainians |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition starvation=Patient |
| 2 | **starve** |  | millions of Ukrainians |  |  |  |  |  | nom starvation «state intransitive»: of=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Animals in the snow can face starvation in a hard winter.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:starvation:x4:1
# text = Animals in the snow can face starvation in a hard winter.
1	Animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
2	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	snow	snow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
5	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	face	face	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	starvation	starvation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	winter	winter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **face** | can | Animals in the snow | starvation |  |  | winter |  | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP.destination»: agent=Agent starvation=Destination |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Is tea ready? I'm dying of starvation!"

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* "Is tea ready?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:starvation:x5:1
# text = "Is tea ready?
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	tea	tea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	ready	ready	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

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

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* I'm dying of starvation!"

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:starvation:x5:2
# text = I'm dying of starvation!"
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	'm	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	dying	die	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	starvation	starvation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **die** | present · progressive | I |  |  |  |  | of starvation | vn die-42.4-1 «NP V PP.cause»: agent=Patient of starvation=Causer |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Using hunger and starvation as a weapon of war is against international law.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:starvation:x6:1
# text = Using hunger and starvation as a weapon of war is against international law.
1	Using	use	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	13	csubj	_	_
2	hunger	hunger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	starvation	starvation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
5	as	as	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	weapon	weapon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	war	war	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
10	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
11	against	against	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	international	international	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	law	law	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	13	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | gerund |  | hunger and starvation |  |  |  | as a weapon of war | vn spend\_time-104 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Agent hunger=Duration as weapon=Attribute |
| 2 | **is** | present | Using |  |  |  |  | against international law | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To get down was utterly impossible, it seemed as if he must die of starvation.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:starvation:x7:1
# text = To get down was utterly impossible, it seemed as if he must die of starvation.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
3	down	down	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	utterly	utterly	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	impossible	impossible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	seemed	seem	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
10	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
11	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
12	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
13	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	14	aux	_	_
14	die	die	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	xcomp	_	_
15	of	of	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	starvation	starvation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get down** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | down *property* | vn convert-26.6.2 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | past |  |  |  |  |  | impossible, utterly *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **seem** | past | it |  |  |  |  |  | vn seem-109-1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Theme clause=Attribute |
| 4 | **die** *a condition, not said to happen* | must | he |  |  |  |  | of starvation | vn die-42.4-1 «NP V PP.cause»: agent=Patient of starvation=Causer |

<!-- 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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