---
title: wilful — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «wilful» in the school dictionary: A wilful person is stubborn and determined to do what they want, even when told not to. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# wilful

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** wilful person, they, wilful little goat, She, wilful child, Breaking · **What happens:** be, do, want, not tell, not come down, break · **To what, where:** wilful action, purpose, wall, wilful child, own way, window · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«wilful» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [wilful in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/wilful.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A wilful person is stubborn and determined to do what they want, even when told not to.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wilful:m1:1
# text = A wilful person is stubborn and determined to do what they want, even when told not to.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	wilful	wilful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	stubborn	stubborn	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	determined	determined	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
10	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	9	obj	_	_
11	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
12	want	want	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
14	even	even	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
15	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	16	advmod	_	_
16	told	tell	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	parataxis	_	_
17	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	16	advmod	_	_
18	to	to	PART	TO	_	17	fixed	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a wilful person |  |  |  |  | stubborn *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | a wilful person *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **do** | to-infinitive | a wilful person *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent what=Eventuality |
| 4 | **want** | present | they |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot |
| 5 | **not** **tell** *speech: assert* | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A wilful action is done on purpose, deliberately, especially something bad: wilful damage.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wilful:m2:1
# text = A wilful action is done on purpose, deliberately, especially something bad: wilful damage.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	wilful	wilful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	action	action	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	done	do	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	purpose	purpose	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	deliberately	deliberately	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	parataxis	_	_
13	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	16	punct	_	_
15	wilful	wilful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	damage	damage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | present · passive |  | a wilful action |  | purpose |  | deliberately *property* | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Eventuality |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The wilful little goat would not come down from the wall.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wilful:x1:1
# text = The wilful little goat would not come down from the wall.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	wilful	wilful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	goat	goat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
5	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
6	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
7	come	come	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
8	down	down	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
9	from	from	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	wall	wall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **come down** | would | the wilful little goat |  |  | the wall |  | down *property* | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme from wall=Initial\_Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She was a wilful child who always wanted her own way.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wilful:x2:1
# text = She was a wilful child who always wanted her own way.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	wilful	wilful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	child	child	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
7	always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	8	advmod	_	_
8	wanted	want	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
9	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
10	own	own	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | She | a wilful child |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **want** | past | a wilful child | child's own way |  |  |  | always *property* | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot way=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Breaking the window was wilful damage, not an accident.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wilful:x3:1
# text = Breaking the window was wilful damage, not an accident.
1	Breaking	break	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	csubj	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	window	window	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	wilful	wilful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	damage	damage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
9	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	accident	accident	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **break** | gerund |  | the window |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer window=Patient |
| 2 | **is a** | past | Breaking | wilful damage and a accident |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He wilfully ignored the warning signs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wilful:x4:1
# text = He wilfully ignored the warning signs.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	wilfully	wilfully	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	ignored	ignore	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	warning	warning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	signs	sign	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 | **ignore** | past | He | the warning signs |  |  |  | wilfully *property* | vn neglect-75.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sign=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The wilful puppy pulled on its lead.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wilful:x5:1
# text = The wilful puppy pulled on its lead.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	wilful	wilful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	puppy	puppy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	pulled	pull	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	lead	lead	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pull** | participle |  | the wilful puppy *not said here* |  |  |  | on puppy's lead | vn push-12-1 «NP V PP-Conative»: agent=Agent on lead=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The judge said the harm was wilful.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wilful:x6:1
# text = The judge said the harm was wilful.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	judge	judge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	harm	harm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	wilful	wilful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | the judge |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | past | the harm |  |  |  |  | wilful *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 -->

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