---
title: superstition — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «superstition» in the school dictionary: A superstition is a belief that some action or object brings good or bad luck, even though there is no real reason or proof for it. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# superstition

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** superstition, action, It, black cats, people, breaking · **What happens:** be, bring, believe, think, break, give · **To what, where:** belief, good luck, real reason, such things, superstition, mirror · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A superstition is a belief that some action or object brings good or bad luck, even though there is no real reason or proof for it.

<!-- fold The tree, 26 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:superstition:m1:1
# text = A superstition is a belief that some action or object brings good or bad luck, even though there is no real reason or proof for it.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	superstition	superstition	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	belief	belief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
7	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	8	det	_	_
8	action	action	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	object	object	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	_
11	brings	bring	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl	_	_
12	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	conj	_	_
15	luck	luck	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
17	even	even	ADV	RB	_	23	advmod	_	_
18	though	though	SCONJ	IN	_	20	mark	_	_
19	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	20	expl	_	_
20	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	23	cop	_	_
21	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	23	det	_	_
22	real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	23	amod	_	_
23	reason	reason	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	_
24	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	25	cc	_	_
25	proof	proof	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	conj	_	_
26	for	for	ADP	IN	_	27	case	_	_
27	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	23	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a superstition | a belief |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **bring** | present | some action or object | good luck |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3-1 «NP V NP together»: agent=Agent luck=Theme |
| 3 | **is a** | present | some action or object *not said here* | no real reason or proof |  |  |  | for superstition | 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 -->
Superstition is believing in such things.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:superstition:m2:1
# text = Superstition is believing in such things.
1	Superstition	superstition	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	believing	believe	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **believe** | present · progressive | Superstition |  |  | such things |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It's a superstition that black cats bring bad luck.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:superstition:x1:1
# text = It's a superstition that black cats bring bad luck.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	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	superstition	superstition	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	8	obj	_	_
6	black	black	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	cats	cat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
8	bring	bring	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
9	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	luck	luck	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | It | a superstition |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **bring** | present | black cats | a superstition |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3-1 «NP V NP NP»: agent=Agent that=Destination luck=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some people think breaking a mirror gives seven years of bad luck — that's a superstition.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:superstition:x2:1
# text = Some people think breaking a mirror gives seven years of bad luck — that's a superstition.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	think	think	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	breaking	break	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	csubj	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	mirror	mirror	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	gives	give	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
8	seven	seven	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	luck	luck	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	_
13	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	17	punct	_	_
14	that	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	17	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	17	cop	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	superstition	superstition	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **think** *speech: other* | present | some people |  |  |  |  |  | vn consider-29.9-2 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **break** | gerund |  | a mirror |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer mirror=Patient |
| 3 | **give** | present | breaking |  |  |  | year |  | vn break\_down-45.8 «NP V»: agent=Patient |
| 4 | **is a** | present | that | a superstition |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My grandma has lots of old superstitions.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:superstition:x3:1
# text = My grandma has lots of old superstitions.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	grandma	grandma	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	lots	lot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	superstitions	superstition	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | My grandma | lots of old superstitions |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent lot=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Footballers often have superstitions, like wearing lucky socks.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:superstition:x4:1
# text = Footballers often have superstitions, like wearing lucky socks.
1	Footballers	footballer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	often	often	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	superstitions	superstition	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
6	like	like	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	wearing	wear	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
8	lucky	lucky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	socks	sock	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Footballers | superstitions |  |  |  | often *property* | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent superstition=Patient |
| 2 | **wear** | gerund | Footballers *not said here* | lucky socks |  |  |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent sock=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Science tests ideas; superstition doesn't.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:superstition:x5:1
# text = Science tests ideas; superstition doesn't.
1	Science	science	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	tests	test	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	compound	_	_
3	ideas	idea	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
5	superstition	superstition	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	does	do	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **do** | present | superstition | tests ideas *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent idea=Eventuality |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Is it true or just a superstition?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:superstition:x6:1
# text = Is it true or just a superstition?
1	Is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
2	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	true	true	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
5	just	just	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	superstition	superstition	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Many hotels have no room 13 because of superstition.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:superstition:x7:1
# text = Many hotels have no room 13 because of superstition.
1	Many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	hotels	hotel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	5	det	_	_
5	room	room	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	13	13	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	flat	_	_
7	because	because	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADP	9	case	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	fixed	_	_
9	superstition	superstition	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 | **have** | present | Many hotels | no room |  |  |  | because superstition | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent room=Patient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Superstition made her alternately shudder with cold or burn with the heat of fever.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:superstition:x8:1
# text = Superstition made her alternately shudder with cold or burn with the heat of fever.
1	Superstition	superstition	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	obj	_	_
4	alternately	alternately	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	shudder	shudder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	cold	cold	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	nmod	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	burn	burn	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	conj	_	_
10	with	with	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	heat	heat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
13	of	of	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	fever	fever	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | Superstition | her *= she* |  |  |  | shudder with cold *obl* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset she=Product |
| 2 | **burn** | infinitive | Superstition *not said here* |  |  |  |  | with the heat of fever | vn light\_emission-43.1 «NP.location V PP.theme»: agent=Location with heat=Theme |
| 3 | **heat** |  | fever |  |  |  |  |  | nom heat «phenomenon intransitive»: of=agent |

<!-- 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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