---
title: weakly — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «weakly» in the school dictionary: Weakly means without strength or energy: «he smiled weakly». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/weakly/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [W](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/) / weakly

# weakly

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** he, light, puppy, torch, batteries, I · **What happens:** mean, smile, not mean, shine, wag, be · **To what, where:** hospital bed, tail, clouds, Geppetto · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«weakly» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [weakly in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/weakly.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Weakly means without strength or energy: «he smiled weakly».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:weakly:m1:1
# text = Weakly means without strength or energy: «he smiled weakly».
1	Weakly	weakly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	without	without	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	strength	strength	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	energy	energy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	smiled	smile	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	_
11	weakly	weakly	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  | without strength or energy; weakly *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **smile** *in a quote* | past | he |  |  |  |  | weakly *property* | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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 -->
Weakly means not strongly, only a little: «the light shone weakly».

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:weakly:m2:1
# text = Weakly means not strongly, only a little: «the light shone weakly».
1	Weakly	weakly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
4	strongly	strongly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	only	only	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
10	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
13	shone	shine	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	_
14	weakly	weakly	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  | strongly, weakly *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **shine** *in a quote* | past | the light |  |  |  |  | weakly *property* | vn light\_emission-43.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He smiled weakly from his hospital bed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:weakly:x1:1
# text = He smiled weakly from his hospital bed.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	smiled	smile	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	weakly	weakly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
6	hospital	hospital	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	bed	bed	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 | **smile** | past | He |  |  | his hospital bed |  | weakly *property* | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The puppy wagged its tail weakly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:weakly:x2:1
# text = The puppy wagged its tail weakly.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	puppy	puppy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	wagged	wag	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	tail	tail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	weakly	weakly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wag** | past | the puppy | puppy's tail |  |  |  | weakly *property* | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tail=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The torch shone weakly — the batteries were low.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:weakly:x3:1
# text = The torch shone weakly — the batteries were low.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	torch	torch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	shone	shine	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	weakly	weakly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	batteries	battery	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
8	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	low	low	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shine** | past | the torch |  |  |  |  | weakly *property* | vn light\_emission-43.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | past | the batteries |  |  |  |  | low *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«I'm fine,» she said weakly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:weakly:x4:1
# text = «I'm fine,» she said weakly.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	'm	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	fine	fine	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
7	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	parataxis	_	_
9	weakly	weakly	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** *in a quote* | present | I |  |  |  |  | fine *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | she |  |  |  |  | weakly *property* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The sun shone weakly through the clouds.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:weakly:x5:1
# text = The sun shone weakly through the clouds.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sun	sun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	shone	shine	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	weakly	weakly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	through	through	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	clouds	cloud	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shine** | past | the sun |  |  | the clouds |  | weakly *property* | vn light\_emission-43.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme through cloud=Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The baby bird chirped weakly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:weakly:x6:1
# text = The baby bird chirped weakly.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	chirped	chirp	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	weakly	weakly	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **chirp** | past | the baby bird |  |  |  |  | weakly *property* | vn animal\_sounds-38 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Lemon juice is weakly acidic.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:weakly:x7:1
# text = Lemon juice is weakly acidic.
1	Lemon	lemon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	juice	juice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	weakly	weakly	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	acidic	acidic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Lemon juice |  |  |  |  | acidic, weakly *property* | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Then he turned to Geppetto and cried out weakly:

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:weakly:x8:1
# text = Then he turned to Geppetto and cried out weakly:
1	Then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	3	advmod	_	_
2	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	turned	turn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	Geppetto	Geppetto	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	cried	cry	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
8	out	out	ADP	RP	_	7	compound:prt	_	_
9	weakly	weakly	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **turn** | past | he |  | Geppetto |  | then |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V PP.result»: agent=Theme to geppetto=Result |
| 2 | **cry out** *speech: express* | past | he *not said here* |  |  |  |  | weakly *property* | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [weakling](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/weakling/)
- next →: [weakness](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/weakness/)
- ↑ back to [W in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/)