---
title: thorny — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «thorny» in the school dictionary: Having thorns — sharp, pointed parts on a stem or branch. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# thorny

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** rose bush, thorny hedge, Blackberries, Deciding, formal council, prince · **What happens:** have, point, cause, be, keep in, grow · **To what, where:** arguments, sheep, thorny brambles, holiday, thorny question, thorny issue · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Having thorns — sharp, pointed parts on a stem or branch.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thorny:m1:1
# text = Having thorns — sharp, pointed parts on a stem or branch.
1	Having	have	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	amod	_	_
2	thorns	thorn	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
3	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
4	sharp	sharp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	pointed	point	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	amod	_	_
7	parts	part	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	stem	stem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	branch	branch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **point** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn wink-40.3.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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 -->
Difficult, complicated and likely to cause arguments: «a thorny problem».

<!-- fold The tree, 10 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thorny:m2:1
# text = Difficult, complicated and likely to cause arguments: «a thorny problem».
1	Difficult	difficult	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
3	complicated	complicated	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	likely	likely	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	cause	cause	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	arguments	argument	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
10	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	thorny	thorny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	problem	problem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	13	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cause** | to-infinitive |  | arguments |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition argument=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Be careful — the rose bush is thorny.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thorny:x1:1
# text = Be careful — the rose bush is thorny.
1	Be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	cop	_	_
2	careful	careful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	csubj	_	_
3	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	rose	rose	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	bush	bush	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	thorny	thorny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | careful *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | the rose bush |  |  |  |  | thorny *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The thorny hedge kept the sheep in.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thorny:x2:1
# text = The thorny hedge kept the sheep in.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	thorny	thorny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	hedge	hedge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	kept	keep	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	sheep	sheep	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	RP	_	4	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep in** | past | the thorny hedge | the sheep |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sheep=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Blackberries grow on thorny brambles.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thorny:x3:1
# text = Blackberries grow on thorny brambles.
1	Blackberries	blackberry	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	grow	grow	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	thorny	thorny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	brambles	bramble	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grow** | present | Blackberries |  |  | thorny brambles |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on bramble=Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Deciding where to go on holiday was a thorny question.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thorny:x4:1
# text = Deciding where to go on holiday was a thorny question.
1	Deciding	decide	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	csubj	_	_
2	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	4	advmod	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	go	go	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	1	ccomp	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	holiday	holiday	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	thorny	thorny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	question	question	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **decide** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V what S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **go** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  | holiday |  |  | vn occur-48.3-2 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme on holiday=Location |
| 3 | **be** *speech: other* | past | Deciding | a thorny question |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
(formal) The council discussed the thorny issue of parking.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thorny:x5:1
# text = (formal) The council discussed the thorny issue of parking.
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	formal	formal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
4	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	council	council	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	discussed	discuss	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	thorny	thorny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	issue	issue	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	parking	parking	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **discuss** *speech: other* | past | the formal council | the thorny issue of parking |  |  |  |  | vn chit\_chat-37.6-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent issue=Topic |
| 2 | **issue** |  |  | parking |  |  |  |  | nom issue «cognition transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The prince cut his way through the thorny forest.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thorny:x6:1
# text = The prince cut his way through the thorny forest.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	prince	prince	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	cut	cut	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	through	through	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	thorny	thorny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	forest	forest	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 | **cut** | past | the prince | prince's way |  | the thorny forest |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent way=Product |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Cacti have thorny spines to protect them.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thorny:x7:1
# text = Cacti have thorny spines to protect them.
1	Cacti	cactus	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	thorny	thorny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	spines	spine	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	protect	protect	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
7	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Cacti | thorny spines |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent spine=Patient |
| 2 | **protect** | to-infinitive | Cacti *not said here* | spines *= spine* |  |  |  |  | vn defend-72.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent they=Beneficiary |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The thorny creeping plants tore her sandals, but for all that she came rapidly forward.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thorny:x8:1
# text = The thorny creeping plants tore her sandals, but for all that she came rapidly forward.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	thorny	thorny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	creeping	creep	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	amod	_	_
4	plants	plant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
5	tore	tore	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	sandals	sandal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
9	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
10	for	for	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	14	advmod	_	_
12	that	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	11	obj	_	_
13	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
14	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
15	rapidly	rapidly	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
16	forward	forward	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **creep** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **tore** | past | the thorny creeping plants | her sandals |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **come** | past | she |  |  |  |  | forward *property* | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=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.

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