---
title: weakness — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «weakness» in the school dictionary: Weakness is the state of not being strong in body: «weakness in her legs». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# weakness

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Weakness, state, Spelling, you, I, Kryptonite · **What happens:** be, not be, mean, like, find, resist · **To what, where:** state, body, part, weakness, strengths, sign · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«weakness» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [weakness in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/weakness.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Weakness is the state of not being strong in body: «weakness in her legs».

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:weakness:m1:1
# text = Weakness is the state of not being strong in body: «weakness in her legs».
1	Weakness	weakness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	state	state	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
6	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
7	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	8	cop	_	_
8	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	acl	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
12	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	weakness	weakness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	parataxis	_	_
14	in	in	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	16	nmod:poss	_	_
16	legs	leg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Weakness | the state |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **is** | gerund | the state *not said here* |  |  | body |  | strong *property* | tree rules |

<!-- .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 -->
A weakness is a part of something or someone that is not good or strong enough: «Spelling is my weakness».

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:weakness:m2:1
# text = A weakness is a part of something or someone that is not good or strong enough: «Spelling is my weakness».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	weakness	weakness	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	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	nmod	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	conj	_	_
10	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	13	nsubj	_	_
11	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
12	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	13	advmod	_	_
13	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	acl:relcl	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	conj	_	_
16	enough	enough	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	22	punct	_	_
18	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	22	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	Spelling	spelling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	nsubj	_	_
20	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	22	cop	_	_
21	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	22	nmod:poss	_	_
22	weakness	weakness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	22	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a weakness | a part |  |  |  | of something | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | good *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **be** |  |  |  |  |  |  | enough *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **is a** *in a quote* | present | Spelling | my weakness |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A weakness for something means you like it very much and find it hard to resist: «a weakness for chocolate».

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:weakness:m3:1
# text = A weakness for something means you like it very much and find it hard to resist: «a weakness for chocolate».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	weakness	weakness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	for	for	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	nmod	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	like	like	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	ccomp	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	very	very	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	much	much	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	conj	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	_
14	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	xcomp	_	_
15	to	to	PART	TO	_	16	mark	_	_
16	resist	resist	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	20	punct	_	_
18	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	weakness	weakness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	parataxis	_	_
21	for	for	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
22	chocolate	chocolate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | a weakness for something |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **like** | present | you | weakness |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot it=Theme |
| 3 | **find** | infinitive | you *not said here* | weakness |  |  |  | hard *property* | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Topic |
| 4 | **resist** | to-infinitive | weakness *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Spelling is my weakness, but I'm getting better.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:weakness:x1:1
# text = Spelling is my weakness, but I'm getting better.
1	Spelling	spelling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	weakness	weakness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
6	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
7	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	'm	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	getting	get	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	parataxis	_	_
10	better	good	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	9	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Spelling | my weakness |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **get** | present · progressive | I |  |  |  |  | good *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Write down your strengths and weaknesses.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:weakness:x2:1
# text = Write down your strengths and weaknesses.
1	Write	write	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	down	down	ADP	RP	_	1	compound:prt	_	_
3	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	strengths	strength	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	weaknesses	weakness	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write down** | imperative | you *not said here* | your strengths and weaknesses |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent strength=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Kryptonite is Superman's weakness.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:weakness:x3:1
# text = Kryptonite is Superman's weakness.
1	Kryptonite	Kryptonite	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	Superman	Superman	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	's	's	PART	POS	_	3	case	_	_
5	weakness	weakness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Kryptonite | Superman's weakness |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Gran has a weakness for cake.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:weakness:x4:1
# text = Gran has a weakness for cake.
1	Gran	Gran	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	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	4	det	_	_
4	weakness	weakness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	cake	cake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Asking for help is not a sign of weakness.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:weakness:x5:1
# text = Asking for help is not a sign of weakness.
1	Asking	ask	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	csubj	_	_
2	for	for	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	help	help	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	sign	sign	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	weakness	weakness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ask** *speech: ask* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | for help | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **not** **is a** | present | Asking | a sign |  |  |  | of weakness | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The engineer found a weakness in the wall.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:weakness:x6:1
# text = The engineer found a weakness in the wall.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	engineer	engineer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	found	find	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	weakness	weakness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	wall	wall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **find** | past | the engineer | a weakness |  | the wall |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent weakness=Topic |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The illness caused weakness in his arms.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:weakness:x7:1
# text = The illness caused weakness in his arms.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	illness	illness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	caused	cause	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	weakness	weakness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	arms	arm	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 | **cause** | past | the illness | weakness |  | illness's arms |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition weakness=Patient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It was not long, however, before he had cause to regret his weakness.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:weakness:x8:1
# text = It was not long, however, before he had cause to regret his weakness.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	however	however	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
8	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
9	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
10	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
11	cause	cause	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	4	parataxis	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	regret	regret	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	xcomp	_	_
14	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	15	nmod:poss	_	_
15	weakness	weakness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is** | past | It |  |  |  |  | however, long *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **cause** | past · perfect | he |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **regret** | to-infinitive | he *not said here* | his weakness |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer weakness=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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