---
title: superstitious — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «superstitious» in the school dictionary: A superstitious person believes in luck or magic signs, like thinking black cats, broken mirrors or Friday the 13th bring bad luck. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# superstitious

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** superstitious person, 13th, Superstitious, Grandma, footballers, Sailors · **What happens:** believe, think, break, bring, describe, base · **To what, where:** luck, black cats, bad luck, belief, umbrella, wood · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A superstitious person believes in luck or magic signs, like thinking black cats, broken mirrors or Friday the 13th bring bad luck.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:superstitious:m1:1
# text = A superstitious person believes in luck or magic signs, like thinking black cats, broken mirrors or Friday the 13th bring bad luck.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	superstitious	superstitious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	believes	believe	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	luck	luck	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	magic	magic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	signs	sign	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	like	like	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
12	thinking	think	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	_
13	black	black	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	cats	cat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
16	broken	break	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	17	amod	_	_
17	mirrors	mirror	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	conj	_	_
18	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	Friday	Friday	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	_
20	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	13th	13th	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	nsubj	_	_
22	bring	bring	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	ccomp	_	_
23	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	24	amod	_	_
24	luck	luck	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **believe** | present | a superstitious person |  |  | luck or magic signs |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **think** *speech: other* | gerund | a superstitious person *not said here* | black cats and broken mirrors |  |  |  |  | vn consider-29.9-2 «NP V NP ADJ»: agent=Agent cat=Attribute clause=Theme |
| 3 | **break** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |
| 4 | **bring** | infinitive | the 13th | bad luck |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3-1 «NP V NP together»: agent=Agent luck=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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Superstitious describes a belief or habit based on such ideas rather than on facts or science.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:superstitious:m2:1
# text = Superstitious describes a belief or habit based on such ideas rather than on facts or science.
1	Superstitious	Superstitious	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	describes	describe	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	belief	belief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	habit	habit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
7	based	base	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	case	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	ideas	idea	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
11	rather	rather	ADV	RB	ExtPos=CCONJ	14	cc	_	_
12	than	than	ADP	IN	_	11	fixed	_	_
13	on	on	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	facts	fact	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	conj	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	science	science	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **describe** | present | Superstitious | a belief or habit |  |  |  | base such ideas rather facts or science | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent belief=Theme |
| 2 | **base** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn base-97.1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandma is superstitious and never opens an umbrella indoors.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:superstitious:x1:1
# text = Grandma is superstitious and never opens an umbrella indoors.
1	Grandma	grandma	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	superstitious	superstitious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
5	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	6	advmod	_	_
6	opens	open	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
7	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	umbrella	umbrella	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	indoors	indoors	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Grandma |  |  |  |  | superstitious *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **open** | present | Grandma *not said here* | a umbrella |  |  |  | indoors *property* | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location umbrella=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some footballers are superstitious about their lucky boots.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:superstitious:x2:1
# text = Some footballers are superstitious about their lucky boots.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	footballers	footballer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	superstitious	superstitious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	about	about	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
7	lucky	lucky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	boots	boot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | some footballers |  |  |  |  | about footballers's lucky boots; superstitious *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sailors used to be very superstitious.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:superstitious:x3:1
# text = Sailors used to be very superstitious.
1	Sailors	sailor	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
4	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	cop	_	_
5	very	very	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	superstitious	superstitious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past | Sailors |  |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | to-infinitive | Sailors *not said here* |  |  |  |  | superstitious *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He was superstitious about the number 13.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:superstitious:x4:1
# text = He was superstitious about the number 13.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	superstitious	superstitious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	about	about	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	13	13	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | He |  |  |  |  | about the number; superstitious *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Knocking on wood is a superstitious habit.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:superstitious:x5:1
# text = Knocking on wood is a superstitious habit.
1	Knocking	knock	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	csubj	_	_
2	on	on	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	wood	wood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	superstitious	superstitious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	habit	habit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **knock** | gerund |  |  |  | wood |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on wood=Location |
| 2 | **is a** | present | Knocking | a superstitious habit |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scientists test ideas instead of trusting superstitious beliefs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:superstitious:x6:1
# text = Scientists test ideas instead of trusting superstitious beliefs.
1	Scientists	scientist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	test	test	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	ideas	idea	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	instead	instead	ADV	RB	ExtPos=SCONJ	6	mark	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	fixed	_	_
6	trusting	trust	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
7	superstitious	superstitious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	beliefs	belief	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **test** | present | Scientists | ideas |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent idea=Theme |
| 2 | **trust** | gerund | Scientists *not said here* | superstitious beliefs |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent belief=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I'm not superstitious, but I still kept my lucky pencil.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:superstitious:x7:1
# text = I'm not superstitious, but I still kept my lucky pencil.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	'm	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	superstitious	superstitious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
6	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
7	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
8	still	still	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	kept	keep	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
10	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
11	lucky	lucky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	pencil	pencil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is** | present | I |  |  |  |  | superstitious *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **keep** | past | I | my lucky pencil |  |  | still |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pencil=Theme |

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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.

<!-- /div -->

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