---
title: vicious — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «vicious» in the school dictionary: Cruel and wanting to hurt; violent: a vicious attack. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# vicious

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** vicious circle, one problem, Spreading, vicious wind, roof, She · **What happens:** want, hurt, bite, attack, be, cause · **To what, where:** bad situation, another, vicious dog, high fence, vicious rumours, kind

<!-- .vabout -->
«vicious» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [vicious in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/vicious.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Cruel and wanting to hurt; violent: a vicious attack.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:vicious:m1:1
# text = Cruel and wanting to hurt; violent: a vicious attack.
1	Cruel	cruel	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	wanting	want	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	conj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	hurt	hurt	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
7	violent	violent	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	vicious	vicious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	attack	attack	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **want** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 2 | **hurt** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |

<!-- .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: of an animal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dangerous and likely to bite or attack.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:vicious:m2:1
# text = Dangerous and likely to bite or attack.
1	Dangerous	dangerous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	likely	likely	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	bite	bite	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	attack	attack	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **bite** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn swat-18.2 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **attack** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn attack-60.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Very strong or severe: a vicious storm, a vicious headache.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:vicious:m3:1
# text = Very strong or severe: a vicious storm, a vicious headache.
1	Very	very	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	severe	severe	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	vicious	vicious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	storm	storm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	vicious	vicious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	headache	headache	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«A vicious circle» is a bad situation where one problem causes another that makes the first worse.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:vicious:m4:1
# text = «A vicious circle» is a bad situation where one problem causes another that makes the first worse.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	vicious	vicious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	circle	circle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	situation	situation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
10	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	13	advmod	_	_
11	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	12	nummod	_	_
12	problem	problem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
13	causes	cause	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	_
14	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	13	obj	_	_
15	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	16	nsubj	_	_
16	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	acl:relcl	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	16	xcomp	_	_
19	worse	bad	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	18	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a vicious circle | a bad situation |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **cause** | present | one problem | another |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition another=Patient |
| 3 | **make** | present |  |  |  |  |  | first *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The vicious dog was kept behind a high fence.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:vicious:x1:1
# text = The vicious dog was kept behind a high fence.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	vicious	vicious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	kept	keep	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	behind	behind	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	high	high	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	fence	fence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | past · passive |  | the vicious dog |  | a high fence |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: subject=Theme behind fence=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Spreading vicious rumours is a kind of bullying.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:vicious:x2:1
# text = Spreading vicious rumours is a kind of bullying.
1	Spreading	spread	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	csubj	_	_
2	vicious	vicious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	rumours	rumour	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	kind	kind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	bullying	bullying	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spread** | gerund |  | vicious rumours |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location rumour=Theme |
| 2 | **is a** | present | Spreading | a kind |  |  |  | of bullying | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A vicious wind blew the roof tiles off.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:vicious:x3:1
# text = A vicious wind blew the roof tiles off.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	vicious	vicious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	wind	wind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	blew	blow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	roof	roof	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	tiles	tile	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	ccomp	_	_
8	off	off	ADP	RP	_	7	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **blow** | past | a vicious wind |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **tile off** | present | the roof |  |  |  |  |  | vn butter-9.9 «NP V NP.destination»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She has a vicious cough.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:vicious:x4:1
# text = She has a vicious cough.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	vicious	vicious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	cough	cough	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | She | a vicious cough |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cough=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Not sleeping made him tired, and being tired made him unable to sleep: a vicious circle.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:vicious:x5:1
# text = Not sleeping made him tired, and being tired made him unable to sleep: a vicious circle.
1	Not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
2	sleeping	sleep	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	tired	tired	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
8	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	9	cop	_	_
9	tired	tired	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	advcl	_	_
10	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
11	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	_
12	unable	unable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	xcomp	_	_
13	to	to	PART	TO	_	14	mark	_	_
14	sleep	sleep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	18	punct	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
17	vicious	vicious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	circle	circle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **make** | gerund · passive |  | him *= he* |  |  |  | a vicious circle *obl*; tired *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: he=Product |
| 2 | **is** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | tired *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **make** | past |  | him *= he* |  |  |  | unable *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset he=Product |
| 4 | **sleep** | to-infinitive | him *= he* *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn snooze-40.4-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The villain gave a vicious laugh.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:vicious:x6:1
# text = The villain gave a vicious laugh.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	villain	villain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	gave	give	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	vicious	vicious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	laugh	laugh	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | the villain | a vicious laugh |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent laugh=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
But soon after his father died, and his mother got married again to a man that turned out to be a very vicious step-father, who couldn't abide the little boy.

<!-- fold The tree, 32 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:vicious:x7:1
# text = But soon after his father died, and his mother got married again to a man that turned out to be a very vicious step-father, who couldn't abide the little boy.
1	But	but	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
2	soon	soon	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	6	advmod	_	_
3	after	after	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
4	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	father	father	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	died	die	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
9	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	mother	mother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj:pass	_	_
11	got	get	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	aux:pass	_	_
12	married	marry	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	conj	_	_
13	again	again	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
14	to	to	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	_
17	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	18	nsubj	_	_
18	turned	turn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	16	acl:relcl	_	_
19	out	out	ADP	RP	_	18	compound:prt	_	_
20	to	to	PART	TO	_	27	mark	_	_
21	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	27	cop	_	_
22	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	27	det	_	_
23	very	very	ADV	RB	_	24	advmod	_	_
24	vicious	vicious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	27	amod	_	_
25	step	step	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	27	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	25	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	father	father	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	32	punct	_	_
29	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	32	nsubj	_	_
30	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	32	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	32	advmod	_	_
32	abide	abide	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	27	conj	_	_
33	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	35	det	_	_
34	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	35	amod	_	_
35	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	32	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
36	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **die** | past | his father |  |  |  |  | soon *property* | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1 «NP.attribute V»: agent=Attribute |
| 2 | **marry** | past · passive |  | father's mother |  |  | again | to a man | vn amalgamate-22.2-3-1-1 «NP V NP PP.co-patient»: subject=Patient to man=Co-Patient |
| 3 | **turn out** | past | a man |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **is a** | to-infinitive | a man *not said here* | a vicious step father |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **not** **abide** | could | a vicious step father | the little boy |  |  |  |  | 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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