---
title: trickster — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «trickster» in the school dictionary: A trickster is a person who tricks or cheats people, often to get their money. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# trickster

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** trickster, person, clever playful character, Anansi, you, tricksters · **What happens:** be, trick, cheat, get, play, sell · **To what, where:** person, people, money, clever playful character, myths, tricks · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A trickster is a person who tricks or cheats people, often to get their money.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trickster:m1:1
# text = A trickster is a person who tricks or cheats people, often to get their money.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	trickster	trickster	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	tricks	trick	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	cheats	cheat	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	_
10	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
12	often	often	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
13	to	to	PART	TO	_	14	mark	_	_
14	get	get	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	7	parataxis	_	_
15	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	16	nmod:poss	_	_
16	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a trickster | a person |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **trick** | present | a person |  |  |  |  |  | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **cheat** | present | a person *not said here* | people |  |  |  |  | vn cheat-10.6.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent people=Source |
| 4 | **get** | to-infinitive |  | people's money |  |  |  | often *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer money=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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In myths and folk tales, a trickster is a clever, playful character who plays tricks on others, such as Anansi the spider, Coyote, or Loki.

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trickster:m2:1
# text = In myths and folk tales, a trickster is a clever, playful character who plays tricks on others, such as Anansi the spider, Coyote, or Loki.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	myths	myth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	obl	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
4	folk	folk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	tales	tale	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	trickster	trickster	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	cop	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
11	clever	clever	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
13	playful	playful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	character	character	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
15	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	16	nsubj	_	_
16	plays	play	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	acl:relcl	_	_
17	tricks	trick	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	obj	_	_
18	on	on	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
21	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	23	case	_	_
22	as	as	ADP	IN	_	21	fixed	_	_
23	Anansi	Anansi	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	19	nmod	_	_
24	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
25	spider	spider	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	27	punct	_	_
27	Coyote	Coyote	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	23	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	30	punct	_	_
29	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	30	cc	_	_
30	Loki	Loki	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	23	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	14	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a trickster | a clever playful character |  | myths and folk tales |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **play** | present | a clever playful character | tricks |  | others such Anansi and Coyote or Loki |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent trick=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Anansi the spider is a famous trickster in African stories.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trickster:x1:1
# text = Anansi the spider is a famous trickster in African stories.
1	Anansi	Anansi	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	spider	spider	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	appos	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	famous	famous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	trickster	trickster	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	African	African	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	stories	story	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Anansi | a famous trickster |  | African stories |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The trickster sold fake tickets outside the stadium.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trickster:x2:1
# text = The trickster sold fake tickets outside the stadium.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	trickster	trickster	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	sold	sell	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	fake	fake	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	tickets	ticket	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	outside	outside	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	stadium	stadium	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sell** | past | the trickster | fake tickets |  |  |  | outside the stadium | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent ticket=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Beware of tricksters who say you have won a prize.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trickster:x3:1
# text = Beware of tricksters who say you have won a prize.
1	Beware	beware	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	tricksters	trickster	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	_
4	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	5	nsubj	_	_
5	say	say	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	acl:relcl	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
7	have	have	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	won	win	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	5	ccomp	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	prize	prize	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **beware** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | of tricksters | vn marvel-31.3 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | tricksters |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **win** | present · perfect | you | a prize |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent prize=Eventuality |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Loki is the trickster of Norse myths.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trickster:x4:1
# text = Loki is the trickster of Norse myths.
1	Loki	loki	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	trickster	trickster	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	Norse	norse	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	myths	myth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Loki | the trickster |  |  |  | of Norse myths | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The fox is often the trickster in fables.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trickster:x5:1
# text = The fox is often the trickster in fables.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fox	fox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	often	often	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	trickster	trickster	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	fables	fable	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the fox | the trickster |  | fables |  | often *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A trickster pretended to be from the bank on the phone.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trickster:x6:1
# text = A trickster pretended to be from the bank on the phone.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	trickster	trickster	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	pretended	pretend	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
5	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	cop	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	bank	bank	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	advcl	_	_
9	on	on	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	phone	phone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pretend** | participle |  | a trickster *not said here* |  | the phone |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | to-infinitive |  |  |  | the bank |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- 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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