---
title: waif — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «waif» in the school dictionary: A waif is a homeless, neglected child or animal, often thin and with nobody to care for it. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# waif

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** waif, nobody, kind woman, Victorian cities, many waifs, Waifs · **What happens:** neglect, be, care, look, take, have · **To what, where:** neglected child, thin looking person, little waif, many waifs, streets, lost children

<!-- .vabout -->
«waif» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [waif in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/waif.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A waif is a homeless, neglected child or animal, often thin and with nobody to care for it.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:waif:m1:1
# text = A waif is a homeless, neglected child or animal, often thin and with nobody to care for it.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	waif	waif	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
5	homeless	homeless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	neglected	neglect	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	amod	_	_
8	child	child	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
12	often	often	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
13	thin	thin	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	acl:relcl	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
15	with	with	SCONJ	IN	_	18	mark	_	_
16	nobody	nobody	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	18	nsubj	_	_
17	to	to	PART	TO	_	18	mark	_	_
18	care	care	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	conj	_	_
19	for	for	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
20	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	18	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **neglect** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn neglect-75.1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | present | a waif | a neglected child or animal |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **care** | to-infinitive | nobody |  |  |  |  | for waif | vn caring-75.2-2 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent for it=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: informal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A waif is a very thin, pale, delicate-looking person.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:waif:m2:1
# text = A waif is a very thin, pale, delicate-looking person.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	waif	waif	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
5	very	very	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	thin	thin	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	pale	pale	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
10	delicate	delicate	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	looking	look	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	13	amod	_	_
13	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	13	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **is a** | present | a waif | a thin looking person |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The kind woman took in the little waif.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:waif:x1:1
# text = The kind woman took in the little waif.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	kind	kind	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	woman	woman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	waif	waif	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | past | the kind woman |  |  | the little waif |  |  | vn fit-54.3 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent in waif=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Victorian cities had many waifs living on the streets.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:waif:x2:1
# text = Victorian cities had many waifs living on the streets.
1	Victorian	victorian	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	cities	city	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	waifs	waif	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	living	live	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	acl	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	streets	street	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | Victorian cities | many waifs |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent waif=Patient |
| 2 | **live** | gerund | many waifs *not said here* |  |  | the streets |  |  | vn exist-47.1-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on street=Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Waifs and strays» are lost children or animals.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:waif:x3:1
# text = «Waifs and strays» are lost children or animals.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Waifs	waif	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	strays	stray	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
6	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	lost	lose	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	amod	_	_
8	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lose** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | present | Waifs and strays | lost children or animals |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The kitten was a thin little waif when we found it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:waif:x4:1
# text = The kitten was a thin little waif when we found it.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	kitten	kitten	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	thin	thin	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	waif	waif	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	10	advmod	_	_
9	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	found	find	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	advcl	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the kitten | a thin little waif |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **find** | past | we | kitten |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Topic |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The story is about a waif who finds a home.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:waif:x5:1
# text = The story is about a waif who finds a home.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	about	about	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	waif	waif	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
8	finds	find	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	home	home	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the story |  |  |  |  | about a waif | tree rules |
| 2 | **find** | present | a waif | a home |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent home=Topic |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She looked like a waif in her big coat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:waif:x6:1
# text = She looked like a waif in her big coat.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	like	like	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	waif	waif	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
8	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	coat	coat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | past | She |  |  |  |  | like a waif; in her big coat | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent in coat=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He then carried him to the king, his master, who, pitying the poor little waif, enlisted for him the kind offices of his wife, Merope.

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:waif:x7:1
# text = He then carried him to the king, his master, who, pitying the poor little waif, enlisted for him the kind offices of his wife, Merope.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	3	advmod	_	_
3	carried	carry	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	king	king	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	master	master	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
12	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	14	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	pitying	pity	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	10	acl:relcl	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
16	poor	poor	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
17	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	waif	waif	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
20	enlisted	enlist	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
21	for	for	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
22	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	20	obl	_	_
23	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
24	kind	kind	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	25	amod	_	_
25	offices	office	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	obj	_	_
26	of	of	ADP	IN	_	28	case	_	_
27	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	28	nmod:poss	_	_
28	wife	wife	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	30	punct	_	_
30	Merope	Merope	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	28	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **carry** | past | He | him *= he* | the king |  | then |  | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent he=Theme to king=Destination |
| 2 | **pity** | gerund | king's master | the poor little waif |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer waif=Stimulus |
| 3 | **enlist** | past | He *not said here* | the kind offices of king's wife |  |  |  | for king | vn volunteer-95.4-1 «NP V PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent office=Pivot for he=Beneficiary |

<!-- 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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