---
title: stronghold — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «stronghold» in the school dictionary: A stronghold is a strong, well-defended place such as a castle or fort that is hard to attack. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# stronghold

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** stronghold, castle, group, most people, Highlands, knights · **What happens:** defend, be, attack, support, retreat, take · **To what, where:** strong defended place, place, area, politics, one party, stronghold

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A stronghold is a strong, well-defended place such as a castle or fort that is hard to attack.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stronghold:m1:1
# text = A stronghold is a strong, well-defended place such as a castle or fort that is hard to attack.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	stronghold	stronghold	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
5	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	well	well	INTJ	UH	_	10	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	defended	defend	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	amod	_	_
10	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
11	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	14	case	_	_
12	as	as	ADP	IN	_	11	fixed	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	castle	castle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	fort	fort	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	_
17	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	19	nsubj	_	_
18	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	19	cop	_	_
19	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	acl:relcl	_	_
20	to	to	PART	TO	_	21	mark	_	_
21	attack	attack	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	19	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **defend** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn defend-72.3 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | present | a stronghold | a strong defended place |  |  |  | such a castle or fort | tree rules |
| 3 | **is** | present | a castle or fort |  |  |  |  | hard *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **attack** | to-infinitive | a castle or fort *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn attack-60.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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 -->
A stronghold is also a place where a group, idea, animal or plant is still strong and common.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stronghold:m2:1
# text = A stronghold is also a place where a group, idea, animal or plant is still strong and common.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	stronghold	stronghold	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	also	also	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	18	advmod	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
11	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
13	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	appos	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	plant	plant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	_
16	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	18	cop	_	_
17	still	still	ADV	RB	_	18	advmod	_	_
18	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	acl:relcl	_	_
19	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
20	common	common	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a stronghold | a place |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | a group or plant |  |  |  | still | strong *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **be** |  | a group or plant *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"The Highlands are a stronghold of the red squirrel."

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stronghold:m2e:1
# text = "The Highlands are a stronghold of the red squirrel."
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	Highlands	Highland	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
4	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	stronghold	stronghold	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	red	red	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	squirrel	squirrel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** *in a quote* | present | the Highlands | a stronghold |  |  |  | of the red squirrel | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In politics, a stronghold is an area where most people support one party.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stronghold:m3:1
# text = In politics, a stronghold is an area where most people support one party.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	politics	politics	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	stronghold	stronghold	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	area	area	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	12	advmod	_	_
10	most	most	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	11	amod	_	_
11	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	nsubj	_	_
12	support	support	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	_
13	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	14	nummod	_	_
14	party	party	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a stronghold | a area |  | politics |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **support** | present | most people | one party |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer party=Stimulus |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The knights retreated to their stronghold on the hill.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stronghold:x1:1
# text = The knights retreated to their stronghold on the hill.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	knights	knight	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	retreated	retreat	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	stronghold	stronghold	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	hill	hill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **retreat** | past | the knights |  |  | the hill |  | to knights's stronghold | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme to stronghold=Initial\_Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The castle was a stronghold that no army could take.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stronghold:x2:1
# text = The castle was a stronghold that no army could take.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	castle	castle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	stronghold	stronghold	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	10	obj	_	_
7	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	8	det	_	_
8	army	army	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
9	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	take	take	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the castle | a stronghold |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **take** | could | no army | a stronghold |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent that=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scotland is a stronghold for red squirrels.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stronghold:x3:1
# text = Scotland is a stronghold for red squirrels.
1	Scotland	Scotland	PROPN	NNP	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	stronghold	stronghold	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	red	red	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	squirrels	squirrel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The rebels held a stronghold in the mountains.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stronghold:x4:1
# text = The rebels held a stronghold in the mountains.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	rebels	rebel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	held	hold	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	stronghold	stronghold	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	mountains	mountain	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hold** | past | the rebels | a stronghold |  | the mountains |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent stronghold=Theme in mountain=Location |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
This town is a stronghold of the Labour Party.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stronghold:x5:1
# text = This town is a stronghold of the Labour Party.
1	This	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	2	det	_	_
2	town	town	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	stronghold	stronghold	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	Labour	Labour	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	Party	Party	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | this town | a stronghold |  |  |  | of the Labour Party | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The villain's stronghold was hidden under the sea.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stronghold:x6:1
# text = The villain's stronghold was hidden under the sea.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	villain	villain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	stronghold	stronghold	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj:pass	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	hidden	hide	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
7	under	under	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hide** | past · passive |  | the villain's stronghold |  | the sea |  |  | vn concealment-16-1 «NP V NP PP.location»: subject=Patient under sea=Location |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The island is the last stronghold of the rare bird.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stronghold:x7:1
# text = The island is the last stronghold of the rare bird.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	island	island	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	last	last	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	stronghold	stronghold	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	rare	rare	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the island | the last stronghold |  |  |  | of the rare bird | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She travelled in the direction of Iollan’s stronghold.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stronghold:x8:1
# text = She travelled in the direction of Iollan’s stronghold.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	travelled	travel	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	direction	direction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	Iollan	Iollan	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	’s	's	PART	POS	_	7	case	_	_
9	stronghold	stronghold	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **travel** | past | She |  |  | the direction of Iollan's stronghold |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in direction=Trajectory |

<!-- 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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