---
title: titter — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «titter» in the school dictionary: To titter is to laugh quietly in a nervous, silly or slightly rude way, often trying not to. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# titter

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** titter, chair, girls, nervous titter, you, it · **What happens:** titter, be, not try, run, squeak, not titter · **To what, where:** nervous way, little laugh, class, books, titter, back row · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«titter» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 7 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: [titter in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/titter.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To titter is to laugh quietly in a nervous, silly or slightly rude way, often trying not to.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:titter:m1:1
# text = To titter is to laugh quietly in a nervous, silly or slightly rude way, often trying not to.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	titter	titter	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	laugh	laugh	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	quietly	quietly	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
9	nervous	nervous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
11	silly	silly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	conj	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
13	slightly	slightly	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
14	rude	rude	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	conj	_	_
15	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
17	often	often	ADV	RB	_	18	advmod	_	_
18	trying	try	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	conj	_	_
19	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	18	advmod	_	_
20	to	to	PART	TO	_	19	fixed	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **titter** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  | a nervous way |  | laugh, quietly *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **not** **try** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | often *property* | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |

<!-- .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: noun — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A titter is such a little laugh.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:titter:m2:1
# text = A titter is such a little laugh.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	titter	titter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	such	such	DET	PDT	PronType=Ind	7	det:predet	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	laugh	laugh	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** | present | a titter | such little laugh |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A titter ran round the class when the teacher's chair squeaked.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:titter:x1:1
# text = A titter ran round the class when the teacher's chair squeaked.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	titter	titter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	ran	run	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	round	round	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	12	advmod	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	's	's	PART	POS	_	9	case	_	_
11	chair	chair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
12	squeaked	squeak	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 | **run** | past | a titter |  |  | the class |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme round class=Trajectory |
| 2 | **squeak** | past | the teacher's chair |  |  |  |  |  | vn animal\_sounds-38 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The girls tittered behind their books.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:titter:x2:1
# text = The girls tittered behind their books.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	girls	girl	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	tittered	titter	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	behind	behind	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	books	book	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **titter** | past | the girls |  |  | girls's books |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There was a nervous titter from the audience.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:titter:x3:1
# text = There was a nervous titter from the audience.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	was	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	nervous	nervous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	titter	titter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	audience	audience	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | past | a nervous titter from the audience |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't titter, it's rude.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:titter:x4:1
# text = Don't titter, it's rude.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	titter	titter	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
5	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	rude	rude	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **titter** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present | it |  |  |  |  | rude *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The guests tittered when Toad fell over.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:titter:x5:1
# text = The guests tittered when Toad fell over.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	guests	guest	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	tittered	titter	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	6	advmod	_	_
5	Toad	Toad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	fell	fall	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
7	over	over	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **titter** | past | the guests |  |  |  |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **fall over** | past | Toad |  |  |  |  | over *property* | vn occur-48.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He heard a titter from the back row.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:titter:x6:1
# text = He heard a titter from the back row.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	heard	hear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	titter	titter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	back	back	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	row	row	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hear** | past | He | a titter |  | the back row |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent titter=Topic from row=Source |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
So spoke the barber, and a titter ran round the room.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:titter:x7:1
# text = So spoke the barber, and a titter ran round the room.
1	So	so	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	spoke	speak	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	barber	barber	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	titter	titter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	ran	run	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
10	round	round	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	room	room	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **speak** *speech: other* | past |  | the barber |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **run** | past | a titter |  |  | the room |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme round room=Trajectory |

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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.

<!-- /div -->

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