---
title: thug — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «thug» in the school dictionary: A thug is a violent, rough person, especially a criminal who hurts people. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# thug

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** thug, criminal, People, gang, newspaper, you · **What happens:** be, hurt, call, behave, smash, not act · **To what, where:** violent rough person, people, someone, bullying, shop windows, attackers · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«thug» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [thug in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/thug.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A thug is a violent, rough person, especially a criminal who hurts people.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thug:m1:1
# text = A thug is a violent, rough person, especially a criminal who hurts people.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	thug	thug	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
5	violent	violent	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	rough	rough	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	criminal	criminal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	_
13	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	14	nsubj	_	_
14	hurts	hurt	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	acl:relcl	_	_
15	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a thug | a violent rough person and a criminal |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **hurt** | present | a criminal | people |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer people=Patient |

<!-- .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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
People sometimes call someone a thug if they behave in a bullying, aggressive way.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thug:m2:1
# text = People sometimes call someone a thug if they behave in a bullying, aggressive way.
1	People	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	sometimes	sometimes	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	3	advmod	_	_
3	call	call	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	obj	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	thug	thug	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	xcomp	_	_
7	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
8	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	behave	behave	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	bullying	bullying	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
14	aggressive	aggressive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | present | People |  | someone |  |  | sometimes *property* | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent someone=Recipient |
| 2 | **behave** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | People |  |  | a bullying and aggressive way |  |  | vn masquerade-29.6-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A gang of thugs smashed the shop windows.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thug:x1:1
# text = A gang of thugs smashed the shop windows.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	gang	gang	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	thugs	thug	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
5	smashed	smash	VERB	VBD	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	shop	shop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	windows	window	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **smash** | past | a gang of thugs | the shop windows |  |  |  |  | vn throw-17.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent window=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The newspaper called the attackers cowardly thugs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thug:x2:1
# text = The newspaper called the attackers cowardly thugs.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	newspaper	newspaper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	attackers	attacker	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	xcomp	_	_
6	cowardly	cowardly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	thugs	thug	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | participle | the newspaper *not said here* | the attackers and cowardly thugs |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't act like a thug just because you're bigger.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thug:x3:1
# text = Don't act like a thug just because you're bigger.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	act	act	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	like	like	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	thug	thug	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	just	just	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
8	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
9	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	're	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
11	bigger	big	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **act** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | like a thug | vn masquerade-29.6-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Agent like thug=Attribute |
| 2 | **is** | present | you |  |  |  |  | big *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The thug was caught on camera and arrested.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thug:x4:1
# text = The thug was caught on camera and arrested.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	thug	thug	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	caught	catch	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	camera	camera	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	arrested	arrest	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **catch** | past · passive |  | the thug |  | camera |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |
| 2 | **arrest** | past |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn prosecute-33.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The fans called the defender a thug after the foul.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thug:x5:1
# text = The fans called the defender a thug after the foul.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fans	fan	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
3	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	defender	defender	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	thug	thug	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	appos	_	_
8	after	after	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	foul	foul	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | participle | the fans *not said here* | the defender |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent defender=Recipient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the film, the boss sent two thugs to frighten the shopkeeper.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:thug:x6:1
# text = In the film, the boss sent two thugs to frighten the shopkeeper.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	boss	boss	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	sent	send	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	thugs	thug	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	frighten	frighten	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	advcl	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	shopkeeper	shopkeeper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **send** | past | the boss | two thugs |  | the film |  |  | vn confine-92-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent thug=Theme in film=Destination |
| 2 | **frighten** | to-infinitive | the boss *not said here* | the shopkeeper |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus shopkeeper=Experiencer |

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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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