---
title: trebuchet — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «trebuchet» in the school dictionary: A trebuchet is a huge medieval siege machine like a giant catapult that throws heavy stones over castle walls, powered by a heavy counterweight that falls and swings a long arm with a sling. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# trebuchet

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** trebuchet, giant catapult, heavy counterweight, We, Edward, long arm · **What happens:** be, throw, power, fall, swing, hurl · **To what, where:** huge medieval siege machine, heavy stones, castle walls, long arm, huge stone, castle wall · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A trebuchet is a huge medieval siege machine like a giant catapult that throws heavy stones over castle walls, powered by a heavy counterweight that falls and swings a long arm with a sling.

<!-- fold The tree, 34 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trebuchet:m1:1
# text = A trebuchet is a huge medieval siege machine like a giant catapult that throws heavy stones over castle walls, powered by a heavy counterweight that falls and swings a long arm with a sling.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	trebuchet	trebuchet	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	huge	huge	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
6	medieval	medieval	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
7	siege	siege	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	machine	machine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	like	like	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	giant	giant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	catapult	catapult	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	_
13	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	14	nsubj	_	_
14	throws	throw	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	acl:relcl	_	_
15	heavy	heavy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	stones	stone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	obj	_	_
17	over	over	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	castle	castle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	compound	_	_
19	walls	wall	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
21	powered	power	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	19	acl	_	_
22	by	by	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
23	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
24	heavy	heavy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	25	amod	_	_
25	counterweight	counterweight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	obl	_	_
26	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	27	nsubj	_	_
27	falls	fall	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	25	acl:relcl	_	_
28	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	29	cc	_	_
29	swings	swing	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	27	conj	_	_
30	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	32	det	_	_
31	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	32	amod	_	_
32	arm	arm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	29	obj	_	_
33	with	with	ADP	IN	_	35	case	_	_
34	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	35	det	_	_
35	sling	sling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	29	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
36	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a trebuchet | a huge medieval siege machine |  |  |  | like a giant catapult | tree rules |
| 2 | **throw** | present | a giant catapult | heavy stones |  | castle walls |  |  | vn throw-17.1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.destinations»: agent=Agent stone=Theme over wall=Destination |
| 3 | **power** | participle |  | castle walls *not said here* |  |  |  | by a heavy counterweight | tree rules |
| 4 | **fall** | present | a heavy counterweight |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 5 | **swing** | present | a heavy counterweight *not said here* | a long arm |  |  |  | with a sling | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent arm=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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The trebuchet hurled a huge stone at the castle wall.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trebuchet:x1:1
# text = The trebuchet hurled a huge stone at the castle wall.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	trebuchet	trebuchet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	hurled	hurl	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	huge	huge	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	stone	stone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	castle	castle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	wall	wall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hurl** | past | the trebuchet | a huge stone |  | the castle wall |  |  | vn throw-17.1-1 «NP V NP PP.destinations»: agent=Agent stone=Theme at wall=Destination |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We built a model trebuchet out of lolly sticks in D and T.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trebuchet:x2:1
# text = We built a model trebuchet out of lolly sticks in D and T.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	built	build	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	model	model	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	trebuchet	trebuchet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	out	out	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	lolly	lolly	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	sticks	stick	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	D	D	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	T.	T.	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **build** | past | We | a model trebuchet |  | lolly sticks in D and T. |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent trebuchet=Product |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A trebuchet uses a heavy counterweight, not a twisted rope.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trebuchet:x3:1
# text = A trebuchet uses a heavy counterweight, not a twisted rope.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	trebuchet	trebuchet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	uses	use	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	heavy	heavy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	counterweight	counterweight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
8	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	twisted	twisted	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	rope	rope	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | a trebuchet | a heavy counterweight and a twisted rope |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent counterweight=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Edward I used a giant trebuchet called Warwolf.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trebuchet:x4:1
# text = Edward I used a giant trebuchet called Warwolf.
1	Edward	edward	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	giant	giant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	trebuchet	trebuchet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
8	Warwolf	Warwolf	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past | Edward | a giant trebuchet |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent trebuchet=Patient |
| 2 | **call** | participle |  | a giant trebuchet *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The trebuchet's long arm acts like a lever.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trebuchet:x5:1
# text = The trebuchet's long arm acts like a lever.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	trebuchet	trebuchet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	arm	arm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	acts	act	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	like	like	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	lever	lever	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **act** | present | the trebuchet's long arm |  |  |  |  | like a lever | vn masquerade-29.6-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Agent like lever=Attribute |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our trebuchet threw a marshmallow three metres.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trebuchet:x6:1
# text = Our trebuchet threw a marshmallow three metres.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	trebuchet	trebuchet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	threw	throw	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	marshmallow	marshmallow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
7	metres	metre	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **throw** | past | Our trebuchet | a marshmallow |  |  |  | three metres *obl:unmarked* | vn throw-17.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent marshmallow=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Trebuchets could throw stones weighing as much as a person.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trebuchet:x7:1
# text = Trebuchets could throw stones weighing as much as a person.
1	Trebuchets	trebuchet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	throw	throw	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	stones	stone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	weighing	weigh	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	acl	_	_
6	as	as	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	much	much	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	obj	_	_
8	as	as	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **throw** | could | Trebuchets | stones |  |  |  |  | vn throw-17.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent stone=Theme |
| 2 | **weigh** | gerund | stones *not said here* | much |  |  |  | as a person | vn register-54.1-2-1 «NP V NP.value»: agent=Theme much=Value |

<!-- 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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