---
title: withers — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «withers» in the school dictionary: The withers are the highest point of a horse's back, the ridge between its shoulder blades; horses are measured to the withers. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# withers

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** withers, plant, pony, saddle, vet, grass · **What happens:** be, measure, wither, dry up, die, not press · **To what, where:** highest point, horses, form, withers, flower, water

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The withers are the highest point of a horse's back, the ridge between its shoulder blades; horses are measured to the withers.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:withers:m1:1
# text = The withers are the highest point of a horse's back, the ridge between its shoulder blades; horses are measured to the withers.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	withers	wither	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	highest	high	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	6	amod	_	_
6	point	point	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	horse	horse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	's	's	PART	POS	_	9	case	_	_
11	back	back	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	ridge	ridge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	appos	_	_
15	between	between	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
16	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	18	nmod:poss	_	_
17	shoulder	shoulder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	compound	_	_
18	blades	blade	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	22	punct	_	_
20	horses	horse	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	22	nsubj	_	_
21	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	22	aux:pass	_	_
22	measured	measure	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	parataxis	_	_
23	to	to	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
24	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
25	withers	wither	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	22	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the withers | the highest point |  |  |  | of a horse's back | tree rules |
| 2 | **measure** | present · passive |  | horses |  |  |  | to the withers | vn register-54.1-2-1 «NP V NP.value»: subject=Value |

<!-- .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 -->
«Withers» is also the form of the verb «wither»: a plant withers when it dries up and dies.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:withers:m2:1
# text = «Withers» is also the form of the verb «wither»: a plant withers when it dries up and dies.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Withers	Wither	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	also	also	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	form	form	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	verb	verb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
11	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	wither	wither	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	17	punct	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	plant	plant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	nsubj	_	_
17	withers	wither	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	parataxis	_	_
18	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	20	mark	_	_
19	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	20	nsubj	_	_
20	dries	dry	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	17	advcl	_	_
21	up	up	ADP	RP	_	20	compound:prt	_	_
22	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	23	cc	_	_
23	dies	die	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	20	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Withers | the form |  |  |  | of the verb | tree rules |
| 2 | **wither** | present | a plant |  |  |  |  |  | vn entity\_specific\_cos-45.5 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **dry up** | present | plant |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4-1 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 4 | **die** | present | plant *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1 «NP.attribute V»: agent=Attribute |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The pony is 13 hands high at the withers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:withers:x1:1
# text = The pony is 13 hands high at the withers.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	pony	pony	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	13	13	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	hands	hand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl:unmarked	_	_
6	high	high	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	withers	wither	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the pony |  |  | the withers |  | 13 hands *obl:unmarked*; high *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The saddle should not press on the horse's withers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:withers:x2:1
# text = The saddle should not press on the horse's withers.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	saddle	saddle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	press	press	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	horse	horse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	's	's	PART	POS	_	8	case	_	_
10	withers	wither	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **press** | should | the saddle |  |  |  |  | on the horse's withers | vn push-12-1-1 «NP V PP-Conative»: agent=Agent on wither=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The vet felt the withers of the horse to check for pain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:withers:x3:1
# text = The vet felt the withers of the horse to check for pain.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	vet	vet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	felt	feel	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	withers	wither	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	horse	horse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	check	check	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
11	for	for	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	pain	pain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **feel** | past | the vet | the withers of the horse |  |  |  |  | vn hunt-35.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent wither=Theme |
| 2 | **check** | to-infinitive | the vet *not said here* |  |  |  |  | for pain | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Agent for pain=Attribute |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Without rain, the grass withers and turns brown.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:withers:x4:1
# text = Without rain, the grass withers and turns brown.
1	Without	without	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	grass	grass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	withers	wither	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	turns	turn	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
9	brown	brown	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wither** | present | the grass |  |  |  |  | without rain | vn entity\_specific\_cos-45.5 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **turn** | present | the grass *not said here* |  |  |  |  | brown *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A flower withers if you leave it out of water.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:withers:x5:1
# text = A flower withers if you leave it out of water.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	flower	flower	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	withers	wither	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	leave	leave	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	out	out	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wither** | present | a flower |  |  |  |  |  | vn entity\_specific\_cos-45.5 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **leave** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | you | flower |  | water |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent it=Theme out water=Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My pony is 12 hands at the withers, so 12 × 4 = 48 inches tall.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:withers:x6:1
# text = My pony is 12 hands at the withers, so 12 × 4 = 48 inches tall.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	pony	pony	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	12	12	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	hands	hand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	withers	wither	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
10	so	so	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
11	12	12	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	16	nummod	_	_
12	×	×	SYM	SYM	_	13	case	_	_
13	4	4	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	11	nmod	_	_
14	=	=	SYM	SYM	_	15	case	_	_
15	48	48	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	16	nummod	_	_
16	inches	inch	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	obl:unmarked	_	_
17	tall	tall	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | My pony | 12 hands |  | the withers |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | My pony *not said here* | 12 48 inches |  |  |  |  | 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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