---
title: subjugate — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «subjugate» in the school dictionary: To subjugate people or a country is to defeat them and take control so they must obey, often taking away their freedom. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# subjugate

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** people, your, empire, powerful empires, rebels, history topic · **What happens:** subjugate, be, take, obey, take away, wish · **To what, where:** people, control, freedom, something, own wishes, group

<!-- .vabout -->
«subjugate» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [subjugate in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/subjugate.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To subjugate people or a country is to defeat them and take control so they must obey, often taking away their freedom.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subjugate:m1:1
# text = To subjugate people or a country is to defeat them and take control so they must obey, often taking away their freedom.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	subjugate	subjugate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	advcl	_	_
3	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	country	country	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	defeat	defeat	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	take	take	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	9	conj	_	_
13	control	control	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	_
14	so	so	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
15	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	nsubj	_	_
16	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	17	aux	_	_
17	obey	obey	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
19	often	often	ADV	RB	_	20	advmod	_	_
20	taking	take	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	9	advcl	_	_
21	away	away	ADV	RB	_	20	advmod	_	_
22	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	23	nmod:poss	_	_
23	freedom	freedom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **subjugate** | to-infinitive |  | people or a country |  |  |  |  | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent people=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | defeat *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **take** | infinitive |  | control |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent control=Theme |
| 4 | **obey** | must | people |  |  |  |  |  | vn abide\_by-93.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 5 | **take away** | gerund |  | people's freedom |  |  |  | away, often *property* | vn remove-10.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent freedom=Theme |

<!-- .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: formal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To subjugate something is to make it less important than something else, like subjugating your own wishes to the needs of the group.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subjugate:m2:1
# text = To subjugate something is to make it less important than something else, like subjugating your own wishes to the needs of the group.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	subjugate	subjugate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	csubj	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	less	less	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	9	advmod	_	_
9	important	important	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	_
10	than	than	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	obl	_	_
12	else	else	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
14	like	like	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
15	subjugating	subjugate	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	advcl	_	_
16	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	18	nmod:poss	_	_
17	own	own	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	wishes	wish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	obj	_	_
19	to	to	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
20	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	needs	need	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	obl	_	_
22	of	of	ADP	IN	_	24	case	_	_
23	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
24	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **subjugate** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | important, make *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **subjugate** | gerund |  | your own wishes |  |  |  | to the needs of the group | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent wish=Patient |
| 4 | **wish** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom wish «feeling intransitive»: poss=agent |
| 5 | **need** |  |  | the group |  |  |  |  | nom need «state transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The empire tried to subjugate its neighbours.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subjugate:x1:1
# text = The empire tried to subjugate its neighbours.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	empire	empire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	tried	try	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	subjugate	subjugate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	neighbours	neighbour	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | past | the empire |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **subjugate** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | the empire *not said here* | empire's neighbours |  |  |  |  | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent neighbour=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Many peoples were subjugated by powerful empires in the past.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subjugate:x2:1
# text = Many peoples were subjugated by powerful empires in the past.
1	Many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	peoples	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	subjugated	subjugate	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	powerful	powerful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	empires	empire	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	past	past	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **subjugate** | past · passive | powerful empires in the past | Many peoples |  |  |  |  | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent subject=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The rebels refused to be subjugated.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subjugate:x3:1
# text = The rebels refused to be subjugated.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	rebels	rebel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	refused	refuse	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
5	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	subjugated	subjugate	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **refuse** | past | the rebels |  |  |  |  |  | vn reject-77.2 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **not** **subjugate** | to-infinitive · passive | the rebels *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP» |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Laws were used to subjugate the poor in that story.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subjugate:x4:1
# text = Laws were used to subjugate the poor in that story.
1	Laws	law	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	subjugate	subjugate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	poor	poor	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	obj	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	10	det	_	_
10	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past · passive |  | Laws |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: subject=Theme clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **subjugate** | to-infinitive |  | the poor |  | that story |  |  | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent poor=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our history topic looked at how nations were subjugated and how they won freedom.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subjugate:x5:1
# text = Our history topic looked at how nations were subjugated and how they won freedom.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	history	history	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	topic	topic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	at	at	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
6	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	9	advmod	_	_
7	nations	nation	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj:pass	_	_
8	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux:pass	_	_
9	subjugated	subjugate	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	advcl	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
11	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	13	advmod	_	_
12	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
13	won	win	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	conj	_	_
14	freedom	freedom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | past | Our history topic |  |  |  |  |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **subjugate** | past · passive |  | nations |  |  |  |  | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |
| 3 | **win** | past | nations *= nation* | freedom |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent freedom=Eventuality |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
No country should subjugate another.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:subjugate:x6:1
# text = No country should subjugate another.
1	No	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	2	det	_	_
2	country	country	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	subjugate	subjugate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **subjugate** | should | no country | another |  |  |  |  | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent another=Patient |

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**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.

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