---
title: terrify — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «terrify» in the school dictionary: To terrify someone means to make them extremely frightened. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# terrify

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Terrified, terrifying, Thunder, I, roller coaster, ghost story · **What happens:** terrify, mean, make, cause, be, speak · **To what, where:** someone, them, great fear, dog, puppy, little brother · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To terrify someone means to make them extremely frightened.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:terrify:m1:1
# text = To terrify someone means to make them extremely frightened.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	terrify	terrify	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	csubj	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	extremely	extremely	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	frightened	frightened	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **terrify** | to-infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus someone=Experiencer |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **make** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | them *= they* |  |  |  | frightened *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset they=Product |

<!-- .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 -->
"Thunder terrifies my dog."

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:terrify:m1e:1
# text = "Thunder terrifies my dog."
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Thunder	thunder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	terrifies	terrify	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **terrify** *in a quote* | present | Thunder | my dog |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus dog=Experiencer |

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Terrified" (adjective) means very, very scared; "terrifying" means causing great fear.

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:terrify:m2:1
# text = "Terrified" (adjective) means very, very scared; "terrifying" means causing great fear.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Terrified	terrified	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
4	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	adjective	adjective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	5	punct	_	_
7	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	very	very	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	very	very	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
11	scared	scared	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	16	punct	_	_
13	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	terrifying	terrifying	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	_
16	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	parataxis	_	_
17	causing	cause	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	16	xcomp	_	_
18	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	fear	fear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Terrified |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **mean** | present | terrifying |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **cause** *not said to happen* | gerund | terrifying *not said here* | great fear |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition fear=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Thunder terrifies our puppy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:terrify:x1:1
# text = Thunder terrifies our puppy.
1	Thunder	thunder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	terrifies	terrify	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	puppy	puppy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **terrify** | present | Thunder | our puppy |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus puppy=Experiencer |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I'm terrified of spiders.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:terrify:x2:1
# text = I'm terrified of spiders.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	'm	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	terrified	terrified	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	spiders	spider	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The roller coaster was terrifying but fun.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:terrify:x3:1
# text = The roller coaster was terrifying but fun.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	roller	roller	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	coaster	coaster	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	terrifying	terrifying	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	fun	fun	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the roller coaster |  |  |  |  | terrifying *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | the roller coaster *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The ghost story terrified my little brother.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:terrify:x4:1
# text = The ghost story terrified my little brother.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	ghost	ghost	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	terrified	terrify	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
6	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **terrify** | past | the ghost story | my little brother |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus brother=Experiencer |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She was terrified to speak in front of the whole school.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:terrify:x5:1
# text = She was terrified to speak in front of the whole school.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|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	terrified	terrified	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	speak	speak	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	front	front	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	whole	whole	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | She |  |  |  |  | terrified *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **speak** *speech: other* | to-infinitive | She *not said here* |  |  | front of the whole school |  |  | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The loud bang terrified the horses.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:terrify:x6:1
# text = The loud bang terrified the horses.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	loud	loud	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	bang	bang	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	terrified	terrify	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	horses	horse	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **terrify** | past | the loud bang | the horses |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus horse=Experiencer |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't let the dark terrify you; it's the same room with the lights off.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:terrify:x7:1
# text = Don't let the dark terrify you; it's the same room with the lights off.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	let	let	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	dark	dark	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	terrify	terrify	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
7	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	same	same	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	room	room	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
14	with	with	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	lights	light	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	nmod	_	_
17	off	off	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **let off** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | the dark |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **terrify** | infinitive | the dark *not said here* | you |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus you=Experiencer |
| 3 | **is a** | present | dark | the same room |  |  |  | with the lights | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The ogre thought to terrify his foe, but Watanabe never flinched.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:terrify:x8:1
# text = The ogre thought to terrify his foe, but Watanabe never flinched.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	ogre	ogre	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	thought	think	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	terrify	terrify	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	foe	foe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
9	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
10	Watanabe	Watanabe	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
11	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	12	advmod	_	_
12	flinched	flinch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **think** *speech: other* | past | the ogre |  |  |  |  |  | vn consider-29.9-2 «NP V how S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **terrify** | to-infinitive | the ogre *not said here* | ogre's foe |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus foe=Experiencer |
| 3 | **not** **flinch** | past | Watanabe |  |  |  |  |  | vn flinch-40.5 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |

<!-- 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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