---
title: stiffly — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «stiffly» in the school dictionary: Stiffly means in a stiff way, without bending easily, as when your body is sore or cold. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# stiffly

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** body, she, Grandpa, I, soldier, robot · **What happens:** mean, bend, be, answer, get up, walk · **To what, where:** cold, chair, car, you, arms, frozen washing · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stiffly means in a stiff way, without bending easily, as when your body is sore or cold.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stiffly:m1:1
# text = Stiffly means in a stiff way, without bending easily, as when your body is sore or cold.
1	Stiffly	stiffly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	stiff	stiff	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	without	without	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
9	bending	bend	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	conj	_	_
10	easily	easily	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
12	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	17	mark	_	_
13	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	17	advmod	_	_
14	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	15	nmod:poss	_	_
15	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	nsubj	_	_
16	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	17	cop	_	_
17	sore	sore	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	parataxis	_	_
18	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	cold	cold	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  | in a stiff way; stiffly *property* | vn representation-110.1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Pivot in way=Attribute |
| 2 | **bend** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | easily *property* | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is** | present | your body |  |  |  |  | sore *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **be** |  | your body *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | 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 -->
Stiffly means in a cold, formal, unfriendly way: «she answered stiffly».

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stiffly:m2:1
# text = Stiffly means in a cold, formal, unfriendly way: «she answered stiffly».
1	Stiffly	stiffly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	cold	cold	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
7	formal	formal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
9	unfriendly	unfriendly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
12	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
14	answered	answer	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	_
15	stiffly	stiffly	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present |  |  |  | a cold and formal unfriendly way |  | stiffly *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **answer** *speech: assert* *in a quote* | past | she |  |  |  |  | stiffly *property* | vn reciprocate-112-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandpa got up stiffly from his chair.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stiffly:x1:1
# text = Grandpa got up stiffly from his chair.
1	Grandpa	grandpa	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	got	get	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	up	up	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	stiffly	stiffly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	chair	chair	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 | **get up** | past | Grandpa |  |  | Grandpa's chair |  | stiffly *property* | vn escape-51.1 «NP V PP.destination»: agent=Theme from chair=Destination |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
After the race I walked stiffly to the car.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stiffly:x2:1
# text = After the race I walked stiffly to the car.
1	After	after	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	race	race	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
4	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	walked	walk	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	stiffly	stiffly	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **walk** | past | I |  |  | the car | after the race | stiffly *property* | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme to car=Destination |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The soldier stood stiffly to attention.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stiffly:x3:1
# text = The soldier stood stiffly to attention.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	soldier	soldier	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	stood	stand	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	stiffly	stiffly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	attention	attention	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stand** | past | the soldier |  |  |  |  | to attention; stiffly *property* | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«No, thank you,» she said stiffly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stiffly:x4:1
# text = «No, thank you,» she said stiffly.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	No	no	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Neg	4	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	thank	thank	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
8	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	parataxis	_	_
10	stiffly	stiffly	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **thank** *speech: thank* *in a quote* | present |  |  | you |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | she |  |  |  |  | stiffly *property* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The robot moved its arms stiffly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stiffly:x5:1
# text = The robot moved its arms stiffly.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	robot	robot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	moved	move	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	arms	arm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	stiffly	stiffly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **move** | past | the robot | robot's arms |  |  |  | stiffly *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent arm=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He bowed stiffly to the guests.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stiffly:x6:1
# text = He bowed stiffly to the guests.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	bowed	bow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	stiffly	stiffly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	guests	guest	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **bow** | past | He |  |  |  |  | to the guests; stiffly *property* | vn acquiesce-95.1-1 «NP V PP.pivot»: agent=Agent to guest=Pivot |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The frozen washing hung stiffly on the line.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stiffly:x7:1
# text = The frozen washing hung stiffly on the line.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	frozen	freeze	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	amod	_	_
3	washing	washing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	hung	hang	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	stiffly	stiffly	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	line	line	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **freeze** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4-1 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **hang** | participle |  | the frozen washing *not said here* |  | the line |  | stiffly *property* | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent on line=Location |

<!-- 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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