---
title: unfree — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «unfree» in the school dictionary: Unfree means not free; not allowed to choose how you live, work or move, such as a slave, a serf or a prisoner. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unfree/)

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# unfree

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Unfree, you, people, Medieval serfs, Enslaved people, Convicts · **What happens:** mean, not allow, choose, live, work, move · **To what, where:** country, basic rights, land, unfree workers, unfree country, unfree labour · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Unfree means not free; not allowed to choose how you live, work or move, such as a slave, a serf or a prisoner.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unfree:m1:1
# text = Unfree means not free; not allowed to choose how you live, work or move, such as a slave, a serf or a prisoner.
1	Unfree	unfree	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	free	free	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
6	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
7	allowed	allow	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	conj	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	choose	choose	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
10	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	12	advmod	_	_
11	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
12	live	live	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	work	work	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	conj	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	move	move	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
18	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	21	case	_	_
19	as	as	ADP	IN	_	18	fixed	_	_
20	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	slave	slave	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	24	punct	_	_
23	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
24	serf	serf	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	conj	_	_
25	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	27	cc	_	_
26	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	27	det	_	_
27	prisoner	prisoner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Unfree |  |  |  |  | free *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **not** **allow** | participle | Unfree *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn allow-64.1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Causer clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **choose** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | Unfree *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **live** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 5 | **work** | infinitive | Unfree *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 6 | **move** | infinitive | Unfree *not said here* |  |  |  |  | such a slave and a serf or a prisoner | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme 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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Unfree can also describe a country or society where people lack basic rights and freedoms.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unfree:m2:1
# text = Unfree can also describe a country or society where people lack basic rights and freedoms.
1	Unfree	unfree	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	reparandum	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	also	also	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	describe	describe	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	country	country	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	society	society	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
9	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	11	advmod	_	_
10	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nsubj	_	_
11	lack	lack	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	_
12	basic	basic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	rights	right	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obj	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	freedoms	freedom	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **describe** | can |  | a country or society |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent country=Theme |
| 2 | **lack** | present | people | basic rights and freedoms |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Medieval serfs were unfree and could not leave their lord's land.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unfree:x1:1
# text = Medieval serfs were unfree and could not leave their lord's land.
1	Medieval	medieval	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	serfs	serf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	unfree	unfree	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
6	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
7	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
8	leave	leave	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	conj	_	_
9	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	lord	lord	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	's	's	PART	POS	_	10	case	_	_
12	land	land	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | Medieval serfs |  |  |  |  | unfree *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **leave** | could | Medieval serfs *not said here* | serfs's lord's land |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent land=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Enslaved people were unfree and forced to work without pay.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unfree:x2:1
# text = Enslaved people were unfree and forced to work without pay.
1	Enslaved	enslave	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	amod	_	_
2	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	unfree	unfree	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	forced	force	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	conj	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	work	work	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
9	without	without	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	pay	pay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **enslave** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | past | Enslaved people |  |  |  |  | unfree *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **force** | participle | Enslaved people *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn urge-58.1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 4 | **work** | to-infinitive | Enslaved people *not said here* |  |  |  |  | without pay | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Convicts in early Australia were unfree workers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unfree:x3:1
# text = Convicts in early Australia were unfree workers.
1	Convicts	convict	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
2	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	early	early	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	Australia	Australia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
5	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	unfree	unfree	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	workers	worker	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | Convicts in early Australia | unfree workers |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In an unfree country people cannot say what they think.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unfree:x4:1
# text = In an unfree country people cannot say what they think.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	unfree	unfree	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	country	country	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
5	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
6	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
8	say	say	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
9	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	11	obj	_	_
10	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
11	think	think	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **say** *speech: assert* | can | people |  |  | a unfree country |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **think** *speech: other* | present | people |  |  |  |  |  | vn wish-62 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot what=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Historians study unfree labour across the world.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unfree:x5:1
# text = Historians study unfree labour across the world.
1	Historians	historian	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	study	study	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	unfree	unfree	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	labour	labour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	across	across	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	world	world	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **study** | present | Historians | unfree labour |  | the world |  |  | vn learn-14-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent labour=Topic |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The prisoners felt unfree behind the high walls.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:unfree:x6:1
# text = The prisoners felt unfree behind the high walls.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	prisoners	prisoner	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	felt	feel	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	unfree	unfree	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
5	behind	behind	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	high	high	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	walls	wall	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **feel** | past | the prisoners |  |  |  |  | unfree *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

<!-- 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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