---
title: sustenance — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «sustenance» in the school dictionary: Sustenance is food and drink that keeps a person, animal or plant alive and strong. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# sustenance

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Sustenance food, Sustenance, travellers, letters, Her, explorers · **What happens:** be, keep, mean, support, strengthen, have · **To what, where:** Sustenance food, person, anything, someone, sustenance, him · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sustenance is food and drink that keeps a person, animal or plant alive and strong.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sustenance:m1:1
# text = Sustenance is food and drink that keeps a person, animal or plant alive and strong.
1	Sustenance	sustenance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	drink	drink	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	keeps	keep	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	acl:relcl	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
11	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	plant	plant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	_
14	alive	alive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	xcomp	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present |  | Sustenance food and drink |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **keep** | present | Sustenance food and drink | a person and animal or plant |  |  |  | alive *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent person=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.

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"The travellers had no sustenance for days."

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sustenance:m1e:1
# text = "The travellers had no sustenance for days."
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	travellers	traveller	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	6	det	_	_
6	sustenance	sustenance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	days	day	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** *in a quote* | past | the travellers | no sustenance |  |  | day |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sustenance=Patient |

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sustenance also means anything that supports or strengthens someone, like comfort, hope or faith.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sustenance:m2:1
# text = Sustenance also means anything that supports or strengthens someone, like comfort, hope or faith.
1	Sustenance	sustenance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	also	also	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	anything	anything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	obj	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	supports	support	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	strengthens	strengthen	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
9	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	like	like	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	comfort	comfort	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	hope	hope	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	faith	faith	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Sustenance | anything |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent anything=Topic |
| 2 | **support** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **strengthen** | present |  | someone |  |  |  | like comfort and hope or faith | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent someone=Patient |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Her letters gave him sustenance."

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sustenance:m2e:1
# text = "Her letters gave him sustenance."
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	letters	letter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	iobj	_	_
6	sustenance	sustenance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** *in a quote* | past | Her letters | sustenance | him *= he* |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent he=Recipient sustenance=Theme |
| 2 | **letter** *in a quote* |  | Her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom letter «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The explorers needed sustenance after the long walk.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sustenance:x1:1
# text = The explorers needed sustenance after the long walk.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	explorers	explorer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	needed	need	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	sustenance	sustenance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	after	after	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	walk	walk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **need** | past | the explorers | sustenance |  |  | after the long walk |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot sustenance=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Bread was the main sustenance of poor families in the past.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sustenance:x2:1
# text = Bread was the main sustenance of poor families in the past.
1	Bread	bread	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	main	main	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	sustenance	sustenance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	poor	poor	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	families	family	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	past	past	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | Bread | the main sustenance |  |  |  | of poor families in the past | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Plants get sustenance from sunlight, water and soil.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sustenance:x3:1
# text = Plants get sustenance from sunlight, water and soil.
1	Plants	plant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	get	get	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	sustenance	sustenance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	from	from	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	sunlight	sunlight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	soil	soil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | present | Plants | sustenance |  | sunlight and water and soil |  |  | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent sustenance=Theme from sunlight=Source |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Many Christians say prayer gives them spiritual sustenance.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sustenance:x4:1
# text = Many Christians say prayer gives them spiritual sustenance.
1	Many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	Christians	Christian	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	say	say	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	prayer	prayer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	gives	give	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
6	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	iobj	_	_
7	spiritual	spiritual	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	sustenance	sustenance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | Many Christians |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **give** | present | prayer | spiritual sustenance | Christians *= christian* |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent they=Recipient sustenance=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The squirrels stored nuts for sustenance in winter.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sustenance:x5:1
# text = The squirrels stored nuts for sustenance in winter.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	squirrels	squirrel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	stored	store	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	nuts	nut	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	sustenance	sustenance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	winter	winter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **store** | past | the squirrels | nuts |  |  | winter | for sustenance | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent nut=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A cup of tea and a biscuit gave Grandma some sustenance.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sustenance:x6:1
# text = A cup of tea and a biscuit gave Grandma some sustenance.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cup	cup	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	tea	tea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	biscuit	biscuit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
8	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	Grandma	Grandma	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	iobj	_	_
10	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	11	det	_	_
11	sustenance	sustenance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | a cup of tea and a biscuit | some sustenance | Grandma |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent grandma=Recipient sustenance=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Hope was their only sustenance during the war.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sustenance:x7:1
# text = Hope was their only sustenance during the war.
1	Hope	Hope	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
4	only	only	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	sustenance	sustenance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	during	during	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	war	war	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | Hope | their only sustenance |  |  | during the war |  | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Inconsolable at his loss, she threw herself upon the ground, and refused all sustenance.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sustenance:x8:1
# text = Inconsolable at his loss, she threw herself upon the ground, and refused all sustenance.
1	Inconsolable	inconsolable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	advmod	_	_
2	at	at	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	loss	loss	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
6	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	threw	throw	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	herself	herself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	7	obj	_	_
9	upon	upon	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	ground	ground	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	refused	refuse	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	_
15	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	16	det	_	_
16	sustenance	sustenance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **throw** | past | she | herself *= she* |  | the ground |  |  | vn throw-17.1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.destinations»: agent=Agent herself=Theme upon ground=Destination |
| 2 | **refuse** | past | she *not said here* | all sustenance |  |  |  |  | vn reject-77.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sustenance=Theme |

<!-- 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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