---
title: wilfulness — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «wilfulness» in the school dictionary: Being determined to do what you want, even when told not to; stubbornness. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# wilfulness

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, Doing, wilfulness, princess, judge, pony · **What happens:** be, do, want, not tell, know, make · **To what, where:** something, purpose, princess, palace, wilfulness, pony · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Being determined to do what you want, even when told not to; stubbornness.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wilfulness:m1:1
# text = Being determined to do what you want, even when told not to; stubbornness.
1	Being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	cop	_	_
2	determined	determined	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	4	obj	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	want	want	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	even	even	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
10	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	11	advmod	_	_
11	told	tell	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	advcl	_	_
12	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
13	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	fixed	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
15	stubbornness	stubbornness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | determined *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **do** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent what=Eventuality |
| 3 | **want** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot |
| 4 | **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, law — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Doing something on purpose, knowing it is wrong.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wilfulness:m2:1
# text = Doing something on purpose, knowing it is wrong.
1	Doing	do	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	9	csubj	_	_
2	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	1	obj	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	purpose	purpose	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	knowing	know	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	advcl	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | gerund |  | something |  | purpose |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |
| 2 | **know** | gerund |  | purpose |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer it=Stimulus |
| 3 | **is** | present | Doing |  |  |  |  | wrong *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The princess's wilfulness made her run away from the palace.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wilfulness:x1:1
# text = The princess's wilfulness made her run away from the palace.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	princess	princess	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	wilfulness	wilfulness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	obj	_	_
7	run	run	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	away	away	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
9	from	from	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	palace	palace	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | the princess's wilfulness | princess |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **run away** | infinitive | princess *not said here* |  |  | the palace |  | away *property* | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme from palace=Trajectory |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His wilfulness meant he would never listen to advice.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wilfulness:x2:1
# text = His wilfulness meant he would never listen to advice.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	wilfulness	wilfulness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	meant	mean	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
5	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
6	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
7	listen	listen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	ccomp	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	advice	advice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | past | His wilfulness |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **not** **listen** | would | wilfulness |  |  |  |  | to advice | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent to advice=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The judge noted the wilfulness of the damage.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wilfulness:x3:1
# text = The judge noted the wilfulness of the damage.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	judge	judge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	noted	note	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	wilfulness	wilfulness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	damage	damage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **note** | past | the judge | the wilfulness of the damage |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent wilfulness=Topic |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The pony's wilfulness made it hard to ride.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wilfulness:x4:1
# text = The pony's wilfulness made it hard to ride.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	pony	pony	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	wilfulness	wilfulness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	obj	_	_
7	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	xcomp	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	ride	ride	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | the pony's wilfulness | pony |  |  |  | hard *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset it=Product |
| 2 | **ride** | to-infinitive | pony *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn nonvehicle-51.4.2 «NP.agent V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her wilfulness sometimes helped her win, too.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wilfulness:x5:1
# text = Her wilfulness sometimes helped her win, too.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	wilfulness	wilfulness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	sometimes	sometimes	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	4	advmod	_	_
4	helped	help	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	obj	_	_
6	win	win	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	too	too	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | past | Her wilfulness | her *= she* |  |  |  | sometimes *property* | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent she=Beneficiary clause=Theme |
| 2 | **win** | infinitive | her *= she* *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Parents found the toddler's wilfulness tiring.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wilfulness:x6:1
# text = Parents found the toddler's wilfulness tiring.
1	Parents	parent	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	found	find	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	toddler	toddler	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	's	's	PART	POS	_	4	case	_	_
6	wilfulness	wilfulness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	tiring	tiring	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **find** | past | Parents | the toddler's wilfulness tiring |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tiring=Topic |

<!-- 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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