---
title: undermine — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «undermine» in the school dictionary: To undermine something is to make it weaker little by little, often secretly. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# undermine

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** cliff, Constant teasing, child, Waves, you, lies · **What happens:** undermine, be, mean, dig, fall, confide · **To what, where:** something, someone, confidence, cliffs, teacher, friendship · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«undermine» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [undermine in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/undermine.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To undermine something is to make it weaker little by little, often secretly.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:undermine:m1:1
# text = To undermine something is to make it weaker little by little, often secretly.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	undermine	undermine	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	csubj	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	weaker	weak	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	6	xcomp	_	_
9	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	advmod	_	_
10	by	by	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
13	often	often	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
14	secretly	secretly	ADV	RB	_	6	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **undermine** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | make, weak *property* | tree rules |

<!-- .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 -->
To undermine someone is to make them less confident or less respected.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:undermine:m2:1
# text = To undermine someone is to make them less confident or less respected.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	undermine	undermine	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	csubj	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	less	less	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	9	advmod	_	_
9	confident	confident	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	less	less	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	12	advmod	_	_
12	respected	respected	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **undermine** | to-infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | confident, make *property* | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To undermine also means to dig under something, like a wall or cliff, so it may fall.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:undermine:m3:1
# text = To undermine also means to dig under something, like a wall or cliff, so it may fall.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	undermine	undermine	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	csubj	_	_
3	also	also	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	dig	dig	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	under	under	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	like	like	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	wall	wall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	cliff	cliff	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
16	so	so	ADV	RB	_	19	advmod	_	_
17	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	19	nsubj	_	_
18	may	may	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	19	aux	_	_
19	fall	fall	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **undermine** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **dig** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  | something |  | like a wall or cliff | vn hunt-35.1 «NP V PP.theme PP.location»: agent=Agent under something=Location |
| 4 | **fall** | may | cliff |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Constant teasing can undermine a child's confidence.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:undermine:x1:1
# text = Constant teasing can undermine a child's confidence.
1	Constant	constant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	teasing	teasing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	undermine	undermine	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	child	child	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	's	's	PART	POS	_	6	case	_	_
8	confidence	confidence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **undermine** | can | Constant teasing | a child's confidence |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **confide** |  | a child |  |  |  |  |  | nom confidence «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Waves undermine the cliffs until they fall.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:undermine:x2:1
# text = Waves undermine the cliffs until they fall.
1	Waves	wave	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	undermine	undermine	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	cliffs	cliff	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	until	until	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	fall	fall	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **undermine** | present | Waves | the cliffs |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **fall** | present | Waves *= wave* |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't undermine your teacher by talking over her.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:undermine:x3:1
# text = Don't undermine your teacher by talking over her.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	undermine	undermine	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	talking	talk	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
8	over	over	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **undermine** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | your teacher |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **talk** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | over teacher | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The lies undermined their friendship.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:undermine:x4:1
# text = The lies undermined their friendship.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	lies	lie	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	undermined	undermine	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	friendship	friendship	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **undermine** | participle | the lies | lies's friendship |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Water undermined the old wall.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:undermine:x5:1
# text = Water undermined the old wall.
1	Water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
2	undermined	undermine	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	1	acl	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	wall	wall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **undermine** | participle | Water *not said here* | the old wall |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Eating junk food can undermine your health.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:undermine:x6:1
# text = Eating junk food can undermine your health.
1	Eating	eat	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	csubj	_	_
2	junk	junk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	undermine	undermine	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	health	health	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **eat** | gerund |  | junk food |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent food=Patient |
| 2 | **undermine** | can | Eating | your health |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
And receiving permission they began to dig, and when the messengers had almost undermined the Capitol they stole away as secretly as they had come.

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:undermine:x7:1
# text = And receiving permission they began to dig, and when the messengers had almost undermined the Capitol they stole away as secretly as they had come.
1	And	and	CCONJ	CC	_	2	cc	_	_
2	receiving	receive	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
3	permission	permission	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	began	begin	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	acl:relcl	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	dig	dig	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
10	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	15	advmod	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	messengers	messenger	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	nsubj:pass	_	_
13	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	15	aux	_	_
14	almost	almost	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
15	undermined	undermine	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	advcl	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	Capitol	Capitol	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	19	nsubj	_	_
18	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	19	nsubj	_	_
19	stole	steal	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	15	parataxis	_	_
20	away	away	ADV	RB	_	19	advmod	_	_
21	as	as	ADV	RB	_	22	advmod	_	_
22	secretly	secretly	ADV	RB	_	19	advmod	_	_
23	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	26	mark	_	_
24	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	26	nsubj	_	_
25	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	26	aux	_	_
26	come	come	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	22	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **receive** | gerund |  | permission |  |  |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent permission=Theme |
| 2 | **begin** | past | they | permission *not said here* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **dig** | to-infinitive | they *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn create-26.4-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **undermine** | past · perfect · passive |  | the messengers |  |  |  | almost *property* | tree rules |
| 5 | **steal away** | past | the Capitol |  |  |  |  | away, secretly *property* | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 6 | **come** | past · perfect | messengers *= messenger* |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- 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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