---
title: washerman — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «washerman» in the school dictionary: A washerman is a man whose job is washing other people's clothes. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# washerman

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** washerman, job, donkey, joke, someone, you · **What happens:** be, wash, put, use, make, do · **To what, where:** man, clothes, old saying, creature, joke, work · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«washerman» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 3 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: [washerman in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/washerman.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A washerman is a man whose job is washing other people's clothes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:washerman:m1:1
# text = A washerman is a man whose job is washing other people's clothes.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	washerman	washerman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	whose	whose	PRON	WP$	Poss=Yes|PronType=Rel	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	job	job	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	washing	wash	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	acl:relcl	_	_
10	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	's	's	PART	POS	_	11	case	_	_
13	clothes	clothes	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a washerman | a man |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **wash** | present · progressive | job | other people's clothes |  |  |  |  | vn floss-41.2.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent clothes=Patient |

<!-- .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 -->
In an old saying, «a washerman's donkey» is a silly or put-upon creature, used as a joke about being made to do someone else's work.

<!-- fold The tree, 28 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:washerman:m2:1
# text = In an old saying, «a washerman's donkey» is a silly or put-upon creature, used as a joke about being made to do someone else's work.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	saying	saying	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	washerman	washerman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	's	's	PART	POS	_	8	case	_	_
10	donkey	donkey	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	_
12	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	cop	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	silly	silly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	put	put	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	upon	upon	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	creature	creature	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
21	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	14	conj	_	_
22	as	as	ADP	IN	_	24	case	_	_
23	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
24	joke	joke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	obl	_	_
25	about	about	SCONJ	IN	_	27	mark	_	_
26	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	27	aux:pass	_	_
27	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	24	acl	_	_
28	to	to	PART	TO	_	29	mark	_	_
29	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	27	xcomp	_	_
30	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	33	nmod:poss	_	_
31	else	else	ADV	RB	_	30	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
32	's	's	PART	POS	_	30	case	_	_
33	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	29	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
34	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	14	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a washerman's donkey |  |  | a old saying |  | silly *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **put** | participle | a washerman's donkey *not said here* |  |  | creature |  |  | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V PP.destination NP»: agent=Agent upon creature=Destination |
| 3 | **use** | participle | a washerman's donkey *not said here* |  |  |  |  | as a joke | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **make** | gerund · passive |  | a joke *not said here* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **do** | to-infinitive | a joke *not said here* | someone's work |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent work=Eventuality |
| 6 | **work** |  | someone |  |  |  |  |  | nom work «act intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Do you take me for a washerman's donkey?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:washerman:x1:1
# text = Do you take me for a washerman's donkey?
1	Do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	take	take	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	washerman	washerman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	's	PART	POS	_	7	case	_	_
9	donkey	donkey	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | present · do-support | you | me |  |  |  | for a washerman's donkey | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent i=Theme for donkey=Beneficiary |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The hare gravely replied, «This is a washerman's donkey.»

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:washerman:x2:1
# text = The hare gravely replied, «This is a washerman's donkey.»
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	hare	hare	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	gravely	gravely	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	replied	reply	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
6	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	This	this	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	12	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	washerman	washerman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	's	's	PART	POS	_	10	case	_	_
12	donkey	donkey	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **reply** *speech: assert* | participle |  | the hare *not said here* |  |  |  | gravely *property* | vn respond-113 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** *in a quote* | present | This | a washerman's donkey |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The shark did not like being laughed at and asked what the joke about a washerman's donkey meant.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:washerman:x3:1
# text = The shark did not like being laughed at and asked what the joke about a washerman's donkey meant.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	shark	shark	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	like	like	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	laughed	laugh	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	xcomp	_	_
8	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	obl	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	asked	ask	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
11	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	19	obj	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	joke	joke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	nsubj	_	_
14	about	about	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	washerman	washerman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	's	's	PART	POS	_	16	case	_	_
18	donkey	donkey	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nmod	_	_
19	meant	mean	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **like** | past · do-support | the shark |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 2 | **laugh** *not said to happen* | gerund · passive | the shark *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V» |
| 3 | **ask** *speech: ask* | past | the shark *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 4 | **mean** | past | the joke about a washerman's donkey |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent what=Topic |

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**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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