---
title: understate — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «understate» in the school dictionary: To understate means to say that something is smaller, less important or less serious than it really is. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# understate

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** something, it, He, one, chilly, bit · **What happens:** understate, mean, say, be, hurt, take · **To what, where:** understated dress, him, nurse, bit, freezing, number · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To understate means to say that something is smaller, less important or less serious than it really is.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:understate:m1:1
# text = To understate means to say that something is smaller, less important or less serious than it really is.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	understate	understate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	csubj	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	say	say	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	smaller	small	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	5	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	less	less	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	12	advmod	_	_
12	important	important	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	conj	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
14	less	less	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	15	advmod	_	_
15	serious	serious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	conj	_	_
16	than	than	SCONJ	IN	_	19	mark	_	_
17	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	19	nsubj	_	_
18	really	really	ADV	RB	_	19	advmod	_	_
19	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **understate** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **say** *speech: assert* *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **is** | present | something |  |  |  |  | small *property* | tree rules |
| 5 | **be** |  | something *not said here* |  |  |  |  | less *property* | tree rules |
| 6 | **be** | present | it |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=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.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Understated (adjective) also means simple and quiet in style, not showy: «an understated dress».

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:understate:m2:1
# text = Understated (adjective) also means simple and quiet in style, not showy: «an understated dress».
1	Understated	understate	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	nsubj	_	_
2	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	adjective	adjective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	3	punct	_	_
5	also	also	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	simple	simple	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	quiet	quiet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	conj	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	style	style	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
13	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	14	advmod	_	_
14	showy	showy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	19	punct	_	_
16	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
18	understated	understate	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	19	amod	_	_
19	dress	dress	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **understate** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  | a understated dress |  |  |  | simple *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent dress=Topic |
| 3 | **understate** *in a quote* | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He understated how hurt he was, so no one took him to the nurse.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:understate:x1:1
# text = He understated how hurt he was, so no one took him to the nurse.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	understated	understate	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	4	advmod	_	_
4	hurt	hurt	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	advcl	_	_
5	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	was	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
8	so	so	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
9	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	10	det	_	_
10	one	one	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
11	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
12	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	obj	_	_
13	to	to	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	nurse	nurse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **understate** | past | He |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **hurt** | participle | He *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **be** | past | he |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **take** | past | no one | him *= he* |  | the nurse |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent he=Theme to nurse=Destination |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«A bit chilly» understates it — it's freezing!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:understate:x2:1
# text = «A bit chilly» understates it — it's freezing!
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	bit	bit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl:unmarked	_	_
4	chilly	chilly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
6	understates	understate	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
11	freezing	freezing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **understate** | present | chilly | bit |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | present | bit | freezing |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The report understated the number of people affected by the flood.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:understate:x3:1
# text = The report understated the number of people affected by the flood.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	report	report	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	understated	understate	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
8	affected	affect	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	acl	_	_
9	by	by	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	flood	flood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl:agent	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **understate** | past | the report | the number of people |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **affect** | participle |  | people *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't understate the danger of thin ice.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:understate:x4:1
# text = Don't understate the danger of thin ice.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	understate	understate	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	danger	danger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	thin	thin	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	ice	ice	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 | **not** **understate** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | the danger of thin ice |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her clothes were simple and understated.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:understate:x5:1
# text = Her clothes were simple and understated.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	clothes	clothes	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan	4	nsubj	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	simple	simple	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	understated	understate	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | Her clothes |  |  |  |  | simple *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **understate** | participle | Her clothes *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Calling the storm «breezy» was a huge understatement.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:understate:x6:1
# text = Calling the storm «breezy» was a huge understatement.
1	Calling	call	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	csubj	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	storm	storm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	breezy	breezy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	huge	huge	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	understatement	understatement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | gerund |  | the storm |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent storm=Recipient |
| 2 | **is a** | past | Calling | a huge understatement |  |  |  |  | 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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