---
title: whitewash — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «whitewash» in the school dictionary: A white liquid made of lime or chalk and water, painted on walls and fences to make them white. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# whitewash

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** someone, things, report, losers, Mole, spring · **What happens:** make, paint, hide, do, look, try · **To what, where:** white liquid, walls, fences, bad things, mistakes, nothing · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«whitewash» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [whitewash in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/whitewash.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A white liquid made of lime or chalk and water, painted on walls and fences to make them white.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whitewash:m1:1
# text = A white liquid made of lime or chalk and water, painted on walls and fences to make them white.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	liquid	liquid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	lime	lime	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	chalk	chalk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	painted	paint	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
13	on	on	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	walls	wall	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obl	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	fences	fence	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	conj	_	_
17	to	to	PART	TO	_	18	mark	_	_
18	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	advcl	_	_
19	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	18	obj	_	_
20	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | participle |  | a white liquid *not said here* |  |  |  | of lime or chalk and water | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 2 | **paint** | participle · passive |  | a white liquid |  | walls and fences |  |  | vn image\_impression-25.1 «NP V NP.theme PP.destination»: subject=Theme on wall=Destination |
| 3 | **make** | to-infinitive |  | fences *= fence* |  |  |  | white *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset they=Product |

<!-- .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: verb — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To paint with whitewash.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whitewash:m2:1
# text = To paint with whitewash.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	paint	paint	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	with	with	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	whitewash	whitewash	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **paint** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | with whitewash | vn image\_impression-25.1 «NP V NP.destination PP.theme»: agent=Agent with whitewash=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: verb — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To hide the bad things someone has done so that they look innocent: «The report tried to whitewash the mistakes.».

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whitewash:m3:1
# text = To hide the bad things someone has done so that they look innocent: «The report tried to whitewash the mistakes.».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	hide	hide	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
6	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	nsubj	_	_
7	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	done	do	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	5	acl:relcl	_	_
9	so	so	SCONJ	IN	ExtPos=SCONJ	12	mark	_	_
10	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	9	fixed	_	_
11	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
12	look	look	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
13	innocent	innocent	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	18	punct	_	_
15	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	report	report	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	nsubj	_	_
18	tried	try	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
19	to	to	PART	TO	_	20	mark	_	_
20	whitewash	whitewash	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	18	xcomp	_	_
21	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	mistakes	mistake	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hide** | to-infinitive |  | the bad things |  |  |  |  | vn concealment-16-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Patient |
| 2 | **do** | present · perfect | someone | the bad things *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Eventuality |
| 3 | **look** | present | things *= thing* |  |  |  |  | innocent *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 4 | **try** *in a quote* | past | the report |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 5 | **whitewash** *not said to happen, in a quote* | to-infinitive | the report *not said here* | the mistakes |  |  |  |  | vn butter-9.9 «NP V NP.destination»: agent=Agent mistake=Destination |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: sport, informal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A win where the losers score nothing or lose every game: «a 5–0 whitewash».

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whitewash:m4:1
# text = A win where the losers score nothing or lose every game: «a 5–0 whitewash».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	win	win	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	6	advmod	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	losers	loser	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
6	score	score	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	_
7	nothing	nothing	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	6	obj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	lose	lose	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
10	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	11	det	_	_
11	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	18	punct	_	_
13	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
15	5	5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	18	nummod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	–	–	SYM	SYM	ExtPos=ADP	17	case	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	0	0	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	15	nmod	_	_
18	whitewash	whitewash	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **score** | present | the losers | nothing |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent nothing=Theme |
| 2 | **lose** | present | the losers *not said here* | every game |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent game=Eventuality |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mole was whitewashing his house when spring called him.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whitewash:x1:1
# text = Mole was whitewashing his house when spring called him.
1	Mole	Mole	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	whitewashing	whitewash	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	8	advmod	_	_
7	spring	spring	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	called	call	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
9	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **whitewash** | past · progressive | Mole | Mole's house |  |  |  |  | vn butter-9.9 «NP V NP.destination»: agent=Agent house=Destination |
| 2 | **call** | past | spring |  | Mole |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent he=Recipient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tom Sawyer got his friends to whitewash the fence.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whitewash:x2:1
# text = Tom Sawyer got his friends to whitewash the fence.
1	Tom	Tom	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	Sawyer	Sawyer	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	flat	_	_
3	got	get	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	friends	friend	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	whitewash	whitewash	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	fence	fence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | past | Tom | Tom's friends |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer friend=Stimulus |
| 2 | **whitewash** | to-infinitive | Tom *not said here* | the fence |  |  |  |  | vn butter-9.9 «NP V NP.destination»: agent=Agent fence=Destination |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The farmer whitewashed the barn walls.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whitewash:x3:1
# text = The farmer whitewashed the barn walls.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	farmer	farmer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	whitewashed	whitewash	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	barn	barn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	walls	wall	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **whitewash** | past | the farmer | the barn walls |  |  |  |  | vn butter-9.9 «NP V NP.destination»: agent=Agent wall=Destination |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The report was called a whitewash because it hid the truth.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whitewash:x4:1
# text = The report was called a whitewash because it hid the truth.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	report	report	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	whitewash	whitewash	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	xcomp	_	_
7	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	hid	hide	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	truth	truth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | past · passive |  | the report |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: subject=Recipient |
| 2 | **hide** | past | report | the truth |  |  |  |  | vn concealment-16-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent truth=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
England beat them 5–0 — a total whitewash!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whitewash:x5:1
# text = England beat them 5–0 — a total whitewash!
1	England	England	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	beat	beat	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	obj	_	_
4	5	5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	–	–	SYM	SYM	ExtPos=ADP	6	case	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	0	0	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nmod	_	_
7	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	total	total	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	whitewash	whitewash	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **beat** | past | England | them *= they* |  |  |  | a total whitewash *obl* | vn hit-18.1-1 «NP V NP ADJP»: agent=Agent they=Patient 5=Result |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The old cottage was whitewashed every summer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whitewash:x6:1
# text = The old cottage was whitewashed every summer.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	cottage	cottage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	whitewashed	whitewash	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	7	det	_	_
7	summer	summer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **whitewash** | past · passive |  | the old cottage |  |  | summer |  | vn butter-9.9 «NP V NP.destination»: subject=Destination |

<!-- 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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