---
title: toady — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «toady» in the school dictionary: A person who flatters and obeys a powerful person too much, to get favours; a creep (informal). Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# toady

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** person, He, toadies, his, you, nobody · **What happens:** flatter, obey, get, behave, toady, laugh · **To what, where:** powerful person, favours, jokes, king, truth, toady · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«toady» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 5 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: [toady in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/toady.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A person who flatters and obeys a powerful person too much, to get favours; a creep (informal).

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:toady:m1:1
# text = A person who flatters and obeys a powerful person too much, to get favours; a creep (informal).
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	4	nsubj	_	_
4	flatters	flatter	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	obeys	obey	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	powerful	powerful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
10	too	too	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
11	much	much	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
13	to	to	PART	TO	_	14	mark	_	_
14	get	get	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	6	parataxis	_	_
15	favours	favour	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	18	punct	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	creep	creep	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
19	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	informal	informal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **flatter** | present | a person and a creep |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **obey** | present | a person and a creep *not said here* | a powerful person |  |  |  |  | vn abide\_by-93.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent person=Theme |
| 3 | **get** | to-infinitive |  | favours |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer favour=Stimulus |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To behave like this: «He toadied to the boss.».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:toady:m2:1
# text = To behave like this: «He toadied to the boss.».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	behave	behave	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	advcl	_	_
3	like	like	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	this	this	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	2	punct	_	_
6	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	toadied	toady	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	to	to	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	boss	boss	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **behave** | to-infinitive | He *not said here* |  |  |  |  | like this | vn masquerade-29.6-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Agent like this=Attribute |
| 2 | **toady** *in a quote* | past | He |  |  |  |  | to the boss | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Like a toad.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:toady:m3:1
# text = Like a toad.
1	Like	like	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	toad	toad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The bully's toadies laughed at all his jokes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:toady:x1:1
# text = The bully's toadies laughed at all his jokes.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	bully	bully	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	toadies	toady	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
5	laughed	laugh	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	9	det:predet	_	_
8	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	jokes	joke	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **laugh** | past | the bully's toadies |  |  | his jokes |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **joke** |  | his *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom joke «communication intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stop toadying to the teacher.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:toady:x2:1
# text = Stop toadying to the teacher.
1	Stop	stop	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	toadying	toady	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	1	xcomp	_	_
3	to	to	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Affector clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **toady** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | to the teacher | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The king was surrounded by toadies who never told him the truth.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:toady:x3:1
# text = The king was surrounded by toadies who never told him the truth.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	king	king	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	surrounded	surround	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	toadies	toady	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl:agent	_	_
7	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
8	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
9	told	tell	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
10	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	iobj	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	truth	truth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **surround** | past · passive | toadies | the king |  |  |  |  | vn contiguous\_location-47.8 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme subject=Co-Theme |
| 2 | **not** **tell** *speech: assert* | past | toadies | the truth | king |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent he=Recipient truth=Topic |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He was such a toady that nobody trusted him.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:toady:x4:1
# text = He was such a toady that nobody trusted him.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	such	such	DET	PDT	PronType=Ind	5	det:predet	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	toady	toady	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	8	obj	_	_
7	nobody	nobody	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	8	nsubj	_	_
8	trusted	trust	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
9	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | He | such toady |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **trust** | past | nobody | such toady |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5-1 «NP V NP to be NP»: agent=Agent that=Theme he=Eventuality |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She toadied to the rich lady in hope of a present.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:toady:x5:1
# text = She toadied to the rich lady in hope of a present.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	toadied	toady	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	rich	rich	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	lady	lady	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	hope	hope	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	present	present	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **toady** | past | She |  |  |  |  | to the rich lady in hope of a present | tree rules |
| 2 | **hope** |  | a present |  |  |  |  |  | nom hope «feeling intransitive»: of=agent |

<!-- 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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