---
title: torment — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «torment» in the school dictionary: Great pain or suffering, in body or mind. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/torment/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [T](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/) / torment

# torment

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** person, you, bully, doubt, mosquitoes, prisoner · **What happens:** cause, make, suffer, tease, annoy, stop · **To what, where:** great suffering, someone, purpose, cat, younger children, She · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«torment» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [torment in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/torment.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Great pain or suffering, in body or mind.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:torment:m1:1
# text = Great pain or suffering, in body or mind.
1	Great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	pain	pain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	suffering	suffering	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	mind	mind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A person or thing that causes great suffering or annoyance.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:torment:m2:1
# text = A person or thing that causes great suffering or annoyance.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	causes	cause	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	_
7	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	suffering	suffering	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	annoyance	annoyance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cause** | present | a person or thing | great suffering or annoyance |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition suffering=Patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To make someone suffer badly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:torment:m3:1
# text = To make someone suffer badly.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	suffer	suffer	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	badly	badly	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | someone |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset someone=Product |
| 2 | **suffer** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | badly *property* | vn marvel-31.3 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To tease or annoy someone (or an animal) on purpose, again and again.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:torment:m4:1
# text = To tease or annoy someone (or an animal) on purpose, again and again.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	tease	tease	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	annoy	annoy	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
5	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	obj	_	_
6	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	9	punct	_	_
11	on	on	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	purpose	purpose	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	again	again	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	again	again	ADV	RB	_	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tease** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn ferret-35.6 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **annoy** | infinitive |  | someone |  | purpose | again |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus someone=Experiencer |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stop tormenting the cat!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:torment:x1:1
# text = Stop tormenting the cat!
1	Stop	stop	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	tormenting	torment	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	1	xcomp	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	!	!	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 | **torment** | gerund | you *not said here* | the cat |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus cat=Experiencer |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The bully tormented the younger children.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:torment:x2:1
# text = The bully tormented the younger children.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	bully	bully	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	tormented	torment	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	younger	young	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	6	amod	_	_
6	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **torment** | past | the bully | the younger children |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus child=Experiencer |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She was tormented by doubt before the test.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:torment:x3:1
# text = She was tormented by doubt before the test.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	tormented	torment	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	by	by	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	doubt	doubt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
6	before	before	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	test	test	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **torment** | past · passive | doubt | She |  |  | before the test |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus subject=Experiencer |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The mosquitoes were a torment all night.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:torment:x4:1
# text = The mosquitoes were a torment all night.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	mosquitoes	mosquito	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	torment	torment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	7	det	_	_
7	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the mosquitoes | a torment |  |  | night |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The prisoner lived in torment.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:torment:x5:1
# text = The prisoner lived in torment.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	prisoner	prisoner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	lived	live	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	torment	torment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** | past | the prisoner |  |  | torment |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in torment=Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My brother torments me by hiding my things.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:torment:x6:1
# text = My brother torments me by hiding my things.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	torments	torment	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
4	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	hiding	hide	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	acl	_	_
7	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hide** | gerund | My brother torments *not said here* | my things |  |  |  |  | vn concealment-16-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Patient |
| 2 | **torment** |  | My |  |  |  |  |  | nom torment «state transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The thought of the exam tormented him.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:torment:x7:1
# text = The thought of the exam tormented him.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	thought	thought	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	exam	exam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	tormented	torment	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **torment** | past | the thought of the exam | him *= he* |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus he=Experiencer |
| 2 | **think** |  |  | the exam |  |  |  |  | nom thought «cognition transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Now," said the lank grey beggarman, "I'll torment you no longer.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:torment:x8:1
# text = "Now," said the lank grey beggarman, "I'll torment you no longer.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Now	now	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
5	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
7	lank	lank	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
8	grey	grey	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	beggarman	beggarman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
11	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	'll	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	14	aux	_	_
14	torment	torment	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	ccomp	_	_
15	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	14	obj	_	_
16	no	no	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
17	longer	long	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	14	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | the lank grey beggarman |  |  |  | now |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **torment** *in a quote* | future | the lank grey beggarman *= beggarman* | you |  |  |  | long *property* | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus you=Experiencer |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [tore](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tore/)
- next →: [tormentor](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tormentor/)
- ↑ back to [T in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/)