---
title: wretched — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «wretched» in the school dictionary: Very unhappy, ill or miserable: «I felt wretched with flu.». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# wretched

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** I, They, you, wretched computer, person, Toad · **What happens:** feel, live, use, show, be, not work · **To what, where:** wretched huts, person, scorn, wretched dog, wretched tents, wretch · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Very unhappy, ill or miserable: «I felt wretched with flu.».

<!-- fold The tree, 10 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wretched:m1:1
# text = Very unhappy, ill or miserable: «I felt wretched with flu.».
1	Very	very	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	unhappy	unhappy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	ill	ill	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	miserable	miserable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	felt	feel	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
11	wretched	wretched	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	xcomp	_	_
12	with	with	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	flu	flu	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **feel** *in a quote* | past | I |  |  |  |  | with flu; wretched *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

<!-- .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 -->
Very poor or bad in quality: «They lived in wretched huts.».

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wretched:m2:1
# text = Very poor or bad in quality: «They lived in wretched huts.».
1	Very	very	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	poor	poor	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	quality	quality	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	lived	live	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	wretched	wretched	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	huts	hut	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** *in a quote* | past | They |  |  | wretched huts |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in hut=Location |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Used to show you are cross with something: «This wretched computer won't work!».

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wretched:m3:1
# text = Used to show you are cross with something: «This wretched computer won't work!».
1	Used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
2	to	to	PART	TO	_	3	mark	_	_
3	show	show	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
5	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	cross	cross	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	ccomp	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	16	punct	_	_
10	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	This	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	13	det	_	_
12	wretched	wretched	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	computer	computer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nsubj	_	_
14	wo	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	16	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	16	advmod	_	_
16	work	work	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **show** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is** | present | you |  |  |  |  | with something; cross *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **not** **work** *in a quote* | future | this wretched computer |  |  |  |  |  | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Wretched can also describe a person who is wicked and deserves scorn.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wretched:m4:1
# text = Wretched can also describe a person who is wicked and deserves scorn.
1	Wretched	wretched	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	advcl	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	also	also	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	describe	describe	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	wicked	wicked	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	acl:relcl	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	deserves	deserve	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	conj	_	_
12	scorn	scorn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **describe** | can |  | a person |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent person=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present | a person |  |  |  |  | wicked *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **deserve** | present | a person *not said here* | scorn |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Toad felt wretched in his cold cell.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wretched:x1:1
# text = Toad felt wretched in his cold cell.
1	Toad	Toad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	felt	feel	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	wretched	wretched	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
6	cold	cold	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	cell	cell	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 | **feel** | past | Toad |  |  |  |  | in Toad's cold cell; wretched *property* | vn seem-109-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Theme in cell=Attribute |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The wretched dog has eaten my homework!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wretched:x2:1
# text = The wretched dog has eaten my homework!
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	wretched	wretched	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	eaten	eat	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	homework	homework	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **eat** | present · perfect · passive |  | the wretched dog |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The refugees lived in wretched tents.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wretched:x3:1
# text = The refugees lived in wretched tents.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	refugees	refugee	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	lived	live	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	wretched	wretched	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	tents	tent	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** | past | the refugees |  |  | wretched tents |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in tent=Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I felt wretched after staying up so late.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wretched:x4:1
# text = I felt wretched after staying up so late.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	felt	feel	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	wretched	wretched	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
4	after	after	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
5	staying	stay	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
6	up	up	ADP	RP	_	5	compound:prt	_	_
7	so	so	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	late	late	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **feel** | past | I |  |  |  |  | wretched *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **stay up** | gerund | I *not said here* |  |  |  |  | late *property* | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.»

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wretched:x5:1
# text = «Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.»
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Amazing	amazing	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	grace	grace	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
5	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	6	advmod	_	_
6	sweet	sweet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
11	saved	save	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	wretch	wretch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	_
14	like	like	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **save** *in a quote* | past | the sweet sound | a wretch |  |  |  | like me | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent wretch=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mole felt wretched when he lost his way in the Wild Wood.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wretched:x6:1
# text = Mole felt wretched when he lost his way in the Wild Wood.
1	Mole	Mole	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	felt	feel	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	wretched	wretched	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
4	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	6	mark	_	_
5	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	lost	lose	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
7	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	Wild	Wild	PROPN	NNP	_	12	flat	_	_
12	Wood	Wood	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **feel** | past | Mole |  |  |  |  | wretched *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **lose** | past | Mole | Mole's way |  | the Wild Wood |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent way=Eventuality |

<!-- 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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