---
title: weasel — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «weasel» in the school dictionary: A weasel is a small, thin, fast wild animal with brown fur and a long body that hunts mice and voles. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# weasel

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** weasel, long body, Weasel words, vague words, you, he · **What happens:** be, hunt, not trust, weasel out, do, use · **To what, where:** small thin fast wild animal, mice, sneaky person, something, it, sneaky way · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A weasel is a small, thin, fast wild animal with brown fur and a long body that hunts mice and voles.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:weasel:m1:1
# text = A weasel is a small, thin, fast wild animal with brown fur and a long body that hunts mice and voles.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	weasel	weasel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
5	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	thin	thin	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
9	fast	fast	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
10	wild	wild	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
12	with	with	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	brown	brown	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	fur	fur	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
17	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	_
19	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	20	nsubj	_	_
20	hunts	hunt	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	18	acl:relcl	_	_
21	mice	mouse	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	obj	_	_
22	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	23	cc	_	_
23	voles	vole	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	21	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a weasel | a small thin fast wild animal |  |  |  | with brown fur and a long body | tree rules |
| 2 | **hunt** | present | a long body | mice and voles |  |  |  |  | vn hunt-35.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent mouse=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, rude — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A weasel is a sneaky person who cannot be trusted.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:weasel:m2:1
# text = A weasel is a sneaky person who cannot be trusted.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	weasel	weasel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	sneaky	sneaky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj:pass	_	_
8	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
10	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	aux:pass	_	_
11	trusted	trust	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a weasel | a sneaky person |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **trust** | can · passive |  | a sneaky person |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To weasel out of something (informal) is to avoid doing it in a sneaky way.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:weasel:m3:1
# text = To weasel out of something (informal) is to avoid doing it in a sneaky way.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	weasel	weasel	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	advcl	_	_
3	out	out	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obl	_	_
6	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	informal	informal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	7	punct	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	avoid	avoid	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
12	doing	do	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	11	xcomp	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	_
14	in	in	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	sneaky	sneaky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **weasel out** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | avoid *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **do** | gerund |  | it |  | a sneaky way |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Eventuality |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Weasel words are vague words used to avoid saying something clearly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:weasel:m4:1
# text = Weasel words are vague words used to avoid saying something clearly.
1	Weasel	weasel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	vague	vague	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
6	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	avoid	avoid	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
9	saying	say	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	xcomp	_	_
10	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	obj	_	_
11	clearly	clearly	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Weasel words | vague words |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **use** | past | vague words |  |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **avoid** | to-infinitive | vague words *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn avoid-52 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 4 | **say** *speech: assert* | gerund | vague words *not said here* | something |  |  |  | clearly *property* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent something=Topic |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A weasel slipped into the hole after a mouse.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:weasel:x1:1
# text = A weasel slipped into the hole after a mouse.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	weasel	weasel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	slipped	slip	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	into	into	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	hole	hole	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	after	after	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	mouse	mouse	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 | **slip** | past | a weasel |  |  | the hole | after a mouse |  | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1-1 «NP.attribute V»: agent=Attribute |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't trust him — he's a real weasel.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:weasel:x2:1
# text = Don't trust him — he's a real weasel.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	trust	trust	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
6	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	weasel	weasel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **trust** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | him *= he* |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent he=Theme |
| 2 | **is a** | present | he | a real weasel |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He tried to weasel out of washing up.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:weasel:x3:1
# text = He tried to weasel out of washing up.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	tried	try	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	weasel	weasel	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	out	out	ADP	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	washing	wash	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	_
8	up	up	ADP	RP	_	7	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | past | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **weasel out** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | He *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **wash up** | gerund | He *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn floss-41.2.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Up to 50% off" uses weasel words.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:weasel:x4:1
# text = "Up to 50% off" uses weasel words.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Up	up	ADV	RB	_	8	nsubj	_	_
3	to	to	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	50	50	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	%	%	SYM	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
6	off	off	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
8	uses	use	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	weasel	weasel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present |  | weasel words |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent word=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The weasels took over Toad Hall in the story.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:weasel:x5:1
# text = The weasels took over Toad Hall in the story.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	weasels	weasel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	over	over	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	Toad	Toad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	Hall	Hall	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	story	story	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** | past | the weasels |  |  | Toad Hall |  | in the story | vn fit-54.3 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent in story=Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Weasels are the smallest meat-eating mammals in Britain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:weasel:x6:1
# text = Weasels are the smallest meat-eating mammals in Britain.
1	Weasels	weasel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
4	smallest	small	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	8	amod	_	_
5	meat	meat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	eating	eat	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	amod	_	_
8	mammals	mammal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	Britain	Britain	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **eat** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | present | Weasels | the smallest eating mammals |  | Britain |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Just then a Weasel came by.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:weasel:x7:1
# text = Just then a Weasel came by.
1	Just	just	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
2	then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	5	advmod	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	Weasel	weasel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	by	by	ADP	IN	_	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come by** | past | a Weasel |  |  |  | then |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- 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 -->
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