---
title: threat — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «threat» in the school dictionary: A threat is when someone says they will hurt you or do something bad if you do not do what they want. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# threat

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** threat, they, you, something, sign, bully · **What happens:** be, hurt, do, not do, want, cause · **To what, where:** you, something, danger, sign, threat, teacher · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«threat» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [threat in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/threat.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A threat is when someone says they will hurt you or do something bad if you do not do what they want.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:threat:m1:1
# text = A threat is when someone says they will hurt you or do something bad if you do not do what they want.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	threat	threat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	6	advmod	_	_
5	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	nsubj	_	_
6	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
8	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	hurt	hurt	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	ccomp	_	_
10	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	conj	_	_
13	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	12	obj	_	_
14	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
15	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	19	mark	_	_
16	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	19	nsubj	_	_
17	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	19	aux	_	_
18	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	19	advmod	_	_
19	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	advcl	_	_
20	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	22	obj	_	_
21	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	22	nsubj	_	_
22	want	want	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	19	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** *speech: assert* | present | a threat |  |  |  |  | say *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **hurt** | future | they | you |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer you=Patient |
| 3 | **do** | infinitive | they *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |
| 4 | **not** **do** *a condition, not said to happen* | present · do-support | you |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **want** | present | they |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot what=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 -->
A threat is also something or someone that could cause danger or harm, like a storm or a disease.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:threat:m2:1
# text = A threat is also something or someone that could cause danger or harm, like a storm or a disease.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	threat	threat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	also	also	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	conj	_	_
8	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj	_	_
9	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	cause	cause	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	acl:relcl	_	_
11	danger	danger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	harm	harm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
15	like	like	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	storm	storm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	parataxis	_	_
18	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
19	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	disease	disease	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a threat | something |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **cause** | could |  | danger or harm |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition danger=Patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A sign that something bad may happen is a threat of it, like «a threat of rain».

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:threat:m3:1
# text = A sign that something bad may happen is a threat of it, like «a threat of rain».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sign	sign	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
3	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	nsubj	_	_
5	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
6	may	may	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	happen	happen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	acl	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	threat	threat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
14	like	like	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
15	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	threat	threat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	_
18	of	of	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **happen** | may | something | a sign *not said here* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | present | a sign | a threat and a threat of rain |  |  |  | of it | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The bully made a threat, so I told my teacher.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:threat:x1:1
# text = The bully made a threat, so I told my teacher.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	bully	bully	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	threat	threat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	so	so	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
8	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	told	tell	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
10	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	iobj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | the bully | a threat |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset threat=Product |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* | past | I |  | my teacher |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent teacher=Recipient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Pollution is a threat to sea animals.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:threat:x2:1
# text = Pollution is a threat to sea animals.
1	Pollution	pollution	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	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	threat	threat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Pollution | a threat |  |  |  | to sea animals | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There is a threat of thunderstorms tonight.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:threat:x3:1
# text = There is a threat of thunderstorms tonight.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	is	be	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	threat	threat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	thunderstorms	thunderstorm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
7	tonight	tonight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | present | a threat of thunderstorms |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Pandas were under threat, but their numbers are growing.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:threat:x4:1
# text = Pandas were under threat, but their numbers are growing.
1	Pandas	panda	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	under	under	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	threat	threat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
6	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
7	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	numbers	number	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	_
9	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	growing	grow	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | Pandas |  |  | threat |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **grow** | present · progressive | Pandas's numbers |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't give in to threats; get help.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:threat:x5:1
# text = Don't give in to threats; get help.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	give	give	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	threats	threat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	get	get	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
9	help	help	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **give in** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | to threats | vn acquiesce-95.1-1 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent to threat=Theme |
| 2 | **get** | infinitive |  | help |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer help=Stimulus |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His warning was just an empty threat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:threat:x6:1
# text = His warning was just an empty threat.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	warning	warning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	just	just	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
5	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	empty	empty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	threat	threat	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 | **is a** | past | His warning | a empty threat |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **warn** |  | His *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom warning «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Wildfires are a threat in hot, dry summers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:threat:x7:1
# text = Wildfires are a threat in hot, dry summers.
1	Wildfires	wildfire	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	threat	threat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
6	hot	hot	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
8	dry	dry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	summers	summer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Wildfires | a threat |  |  | summer |  | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The old Fairy fancied she was slighted, and muttered some threat between her teeth.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:threat:x8:1
# text = The old Fairy fancied she was slighted, and muttered some threat between her teeth.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	Fairy	Fairy	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	fancied	fancy	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	slighted	slight	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	muttered	mutter	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
11	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	12	det	_	_
12	threat	threat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
13	between	between	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	15	nmod:poss	_	_
15	teeth	tooth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fancy** | past | the old Fairy |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 2 | **slight** | past · passive |  | Fairy |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **mutter** *speech: assert* | past | the old Fairy *not said here* | some threat |  |  |  | between Fairy's teeth | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent threat=Topic |

<!-- 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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