---
title: whimper — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «whimper» in the school dictionary: To whimper means to make small, weak crying sounds because you are scared, hurt or sad. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# whimper

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** whimper, small weak crying, you, bang, little boy, boy · **What happens:** mean, make, sound, be, hurt, end · **To what, where:** small quiet cry, big way, puppy, knee, whimper, bed · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To whimper means to make small, weak crying sounds because you are scared, hurt or sad.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whimper:m1:1
# text = To whimper means to make small, weak crying sounds because you are scared, hurt or sad.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	whimper	whimper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
8	weak	weak	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	crying	crying	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
10	sounds	sound	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	ccomp	_	_
11	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
12	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
13	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	cop	_	_
14	scared	scared	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
16	hurt	hurt	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	14	conj	_	_
17	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	sad	sad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | whimper |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **make** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | whimper *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **sound** | present | small weak crying |  |  |  |  |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 4 | **is** | present | you |  |  |  |  | scared *property* | tree rules |
| 5 | **hurt** | participle | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |

<!-- .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 whimper is such a small, quiet cry.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whimper:m2:1
# text = A whimper is such a small, quiet cry.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	whimper	whimper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
4	such	such	DET	PDT	PronType=Ind	9	det:predet	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
6	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
8	quiet	quiet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	cry	cry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a whimper | such small quiet cry |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Not with a bang but a whimper» means ending quietly and weakly, not in a big way.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whimper:m3:1
# text = «Not with a bang but a whimper» means ending quietly and weakly, not in a big way.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
3	with	with	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	bang	bang	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
6	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	whimper	whimper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
10	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	ending	end	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	ccomp	_	_
12	quietly	quietly	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	weakly	weakly	ADV	RB	_	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
16	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	20	advmod	_	_
17	in	in	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
19	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
20	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | a bang but a whimper |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **end** | gerund |  |  |  | a big way |  | quietly *property* | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The puppy whimpered at the door.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whimper:x1:1
# text = The puppy whimpered at the door.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	puppy	puppy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	whimpered	whimper	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	door	door	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **whimper** | participle |  | the puppy *not said here* |  |  |  | at the door | vn animal\_sounds-38 «NP V PP.stimulus»: agent=Agent at door=Stimulus |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The little boy whimpered when he grazed his knee.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whimper:x2:1
# text = The little boy whimpered when he grazed his knee.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	whimpered	whimper	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	7	advmod	_	_
6	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	grazed	graze	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	_
8	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	knee	knee	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **whimper** | past | the little boy |  |  |  |  |  | vn animal\_sounds-38 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **graze** | past | boy | boy's knee |  |  |  |  | vn touch-20-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent knee=Experiencer |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We heard a whimper from under the bed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whimper:x3:1
# text = We heard a whimper from under the bed.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	heard	hear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	whimper	whimper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	under	under	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	bed	bed	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hear** | past | We | a whimper |  | the bed |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent whimper=Topic from bed=Source |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The lost kitten was whimpering in the rain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whimper:x4:1
# text = The lost kitten was whimpering in the rain.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	lost	lose	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	amod	_	_
3	kitten	kitten	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	whimpering	whimper	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	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 | **whimper** | past · progressive | the lost kitten |  |  | the rain |  |  | vn animal\_sounds-38 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She had the injection without a whimper.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whimper:x5:1
# text = She had the injection without a whimper.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	injection	injection	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	without	without	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	whimper	whimper	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 | **have** | past | She | the injection |  |  |  | without a whimper | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent injection=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The storm ended not with a bang but a whimper.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whimper:x6:1
# text = The storm ended not with a bang but a whimper.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	storm	storm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	ended	end	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	bang	bang	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	whimper	whimper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **end** | past | the storm |  |  |  |  | with a bang but a whimper | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality PP.subeventuality»: agent=Affector with bang=Subeventuality |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Don't tell papa and mamma," she whimpered; "they would be angry."

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whimper:x7:1
# text = "Don't tell papa and mamma," she whimpered; "they would be angry."
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	tell	tell	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	papa	papa	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	mamma	mamma	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	11	punct	_	_
10	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
11	whimpered	whimper	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	17	punct	_	_
13	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	nsubj	_	_
15	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	17	aux	_	_
16	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	17	cop	_	_
17	angry	angry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **tell** *speech: assert* *in a quote* | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | papa and mamma |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent papa=Recipient |
| 2 | **whimper** | past | she |  |  |  |  |  | vn animal\_sounds-38 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is** *in a quote* | would | papa |  |  |  |  | angry *property* | tree rules |

<!-- 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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