---
title: And first, to break their spells, she sprinkled the water in which s… — Celtic Fairy Tales · tree and pragmatics
description: And first, to break their spells, she sprinkled the water in which she had washed her child's feet, the feet-water, outside the door on the threshold; secondly, she took the cake which in her absence the witches had made of meal mixed with the blood drawn from the sleeping family, and she broke the 
---

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# Celtic Fairy Tales, The Horned Women, sentence 24

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
And first, to break their spells, she sprinkled the water in which she had washed her child's feet, the feet-water, outside the door on the threshold; secondly, she took the cake which in her absence the witches had made of meal mixed with the blood drawn from the sleeping family, and she broke the cake in bits, and placed a bit in the mouth of each sleeper, and they were restored; and she took the cloth they had woven, and placed it half in and half out of the chest with the padlock; and lastly, she secured the door with a great crossbeam fastened in the jambs, so that the witches could not enter, and having done these things she waited.

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Spirit, absence, Witch, enchantments, witches · **What happens:** break, sprinkle, wash, take, make, mix · **To what, where:** spells, water, feet, cake, witches, meal

<!-- .vabout -->
This is a sentence of «Celtic Fairy Tales» by Joseph Jacobs, The Horned Women. The page gives its syntax tree — a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies — and its pragmatics clause by clause: who acts (Spirit, absence, Witch, enchantments), what happens, when and where, as Mova's frames read it from the tree.

<!-- .note-en -->
**Parsed by Mova, not checked by a teacher.** This tree is Mova's own parse (the `en` model, on the CPU, when the site is built); it may be wrong.

## The tree {#tree}

```conllu
# sent_id = book:pg7885:8:24
# text = And first, to break their spells, she sprinkled the water in which she had washed her child's feet, the feet-water, outside the door on the threshold; secondly, she took the cake which in her absence the witches had made of meal mixed with the blood drawn from the sleeping family, and she broke the cake in bits, and placed a bit in the mouth of each sleeper, and they were restored; and she took the cloth they had woven, and placed it half in and half out of the chest with the padlock; and lastly, she secured the door with a great crossbeam fastened in the jambs, so that the witches could not enter, and having done these things she waited.
1	And	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
2	first	first	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	break	break	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	spells	spell	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	sprinkled	sprinkle	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	17	obl	_	_
15	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	nsubj	_	_
16	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	17	aux	_	_
17	washed	wash	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	12	acl:relcl	_	_
18	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	19	nmod:poss	_	_
19	child	child	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	's	's	PART	POS	_	19	case	_	_
21	feet	foot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	24	punct	_	_
23	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
24	feet	foot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	21	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	26	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	30	punct	_	_
28	outside	outside	ADP	IN	_	30	case	_	_
29	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	30	det	_	_
30	door	door	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obl	_	_
31	on	on	ADP	IN	_	33	case	_	_
32	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	33	det	_	_
33	threshold	threshold	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	30	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
34	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
35	secondly	secondly	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
36	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	38	punct	_	_
37	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	38	nsubj	_	_
38	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
39	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	40	det	_	_
40	cake	cake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	38	obj	_	_
41	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	38	obj	_	_
42	in	in	ADP	IN	_	44	case	_	_
43	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	44	nmod:poss	_	_
44	absence	absence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	41	nmod	_	_
45	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	46	det	_	_
46	witches	witch	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	48	nsubj:pass	_	_
47	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	48	aux	_	_
48	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	44	acl:relcl	_	_
49	of	of	ADP	IN	_	50	case	_	_
50	meal	meal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	48	obl	_	_
51	mixed	mix	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	50	acl	_	_
52	with	with	ADP	IN	_	54	case	_	_
53	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	54	det	_	_
54	blood	blood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	51	obl	_	_
55	drawn	draw	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	54	acl	_	_
56	from	from	ADP	IN	_	59	case	_	_
57	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	59	det	_	_
58	sleeping	sleeping	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	59	compound	_	_
59	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	55	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
60	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	63	punct	_	_
61	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	63	cc	_	_
62	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	63	nsubj	_	_
63	broke	break	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	38	conj	_	_
64	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	65	det	_	_
65	cake	cake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	63	obj	_	_
66	in	in	ADP	IN	_	67	case	_	_
67	bits	bit	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	63	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
68	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	70	punct	_	_
69	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	70	cc	_	_
70	placed	place	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	38	conj	_	_
71	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	72	det	_	_
72	bit	bit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	70	obl:unmarked	_	_
73	in	in	ADP	IN	_	75	case	_	_
74	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	75	det	_	_
75	mouth	mouth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	70	obl	_	_
76	of	of	ADP	IN	_	78	case	_	_
77	each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	78	det	_	_
78	sleeper	sleeper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	75	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
79	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	83	punct	_	_
80	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	83	cc	_	_
81	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	83	nsubj	_	_
82	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	83	aux:pass	_	_
83	restored	restore	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	70	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
84	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	87	punct	_	_
85	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	87	cc	_	_
86	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	87	nsubj	_	_
87	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	38	conj	_	_
88	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	89	det	_	_
89	cloth	cloth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	87	obj	_	_
90	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	92	nsubj	_	_
91	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	92	aux	_	_
92	woven	weave	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	89	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
93	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	95	punct	_	_
94	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	95	cc	_	_
95	placed	place	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	87	conj	_	_
96	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	95	obj	_	_
97	half	half	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Frac	98	advmod	_	_
98	in	in	ADV	RB	_	95	advmod	_	_
99	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	100	cc	_	_
100	half	half	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Frac	98	conj	_	_
101	out	out	ADP	IN	_	104	case	_	_
102	of	of	ADP	IN	_	104	case	_	_
103	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	104	det	_	_
104	chest	chest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	95	obl	_	_
105	with	with	ADP	IN	_	107	case	_	_
106	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	107	det	_	_
107	padlock	padlock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	104	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
108	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	113	punct	_	_
109	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	113	cc	_	_
110	lastly	lastly	ADV	RB	_	113	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
111	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	113	punct	_	_
112	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	113	nsubj	_	_
113	secured	secure	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	87	conj	_	_
114	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	115	det	_	_
115	door	door	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	113	obj	_	_
116	with	with	ADP	IN	_	119	case	_	_
117	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	119	det	_	_
118	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	119	amod	_	_
119	crossbeam	crossbeam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	113	obl	_	_
120	fastened	fasten	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	119	acl	_	_
121	in	in	ADP	IN	_	123	case	_	_
122	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	123	det	_	_
123	jambs	jamb	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	120	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
124	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	131	punct	_	_
125	so	so	SCONJ	IN	_	131	mark	_	_
126	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	131	mark	_	_
127	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	128	det	_	_
128	witches	witch	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	131	nsubj	_	_
129	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	131	aux	_	_
130	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	131	advmod	_	_
131	enter	enter	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	113	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
132	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	135	punct	_	_
133	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	135	cc	_	_
134	having	have	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	135	aux	_	_
135	done	do	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	87	conj	_	_
136	these	this	DET	DT	Number=Plur|PronType=Dem	137	det	_	_
137	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	135	obj	_	_
138	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	139	nsubj	_	_
139	waited	wait	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	137	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
140	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

## Pragmatics {#pragmatics}

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **break** | to-infinitive |  | enchantments's spells |  |  |  | first, secondly *property* | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer spell=Patient |
| 2 | **sprinkle** | past | Spirit | the water |  |  |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent water=Theme |
| 3 | **wash** | past · perfect | Spirit | Spirit's child's feet and the feet and water |  | the water |  | outside the door on the threshold | vn floss-41.2.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent foot=Patient |
| 4 | **take** | past | Spirit | the cake |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP ADVP»: agent=Instrument cake=Theme which=Destination |
| 5 | **make** | past · perfect · passive | Spirit's absence *not said here* | the witches |  |  |  | of meal | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: subject=Product |
| 6 | **mix** | participle |  | meal *not said here* |  |  |  | with the blood | vn mix-22.1-1-1 «NP V PP.co-patient»: agent=Patient with blood=Co-Patient |
| 7 | **draw** | participle |  | the blood *not said here* |  |  |  | from the sleeping family | vn split-23.2 «NP V PP.co-patient»: agent=Patient from family=Co-Patient |
| 8 | **break** | past | Witch | the cake |  | bits |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer cake=Patient |
| 9 | **place** | past | Spirit *not said here* | a bit |  | the mouth of each sleeper |  |  | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent in mouth=Destination |
| 10 | **restore** | past · passive |  | enchantments *= enchantment* |  |  |  |  | vn contribute-13.2 «NP V NP.theme (PP)»: subject=Theme |
| 11 | **take** | past | Witch | the cloth |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cloth=Theme |
| 12 | **weave** | past · perfect | enchantments *= enchantment* | the cloth *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cloth=Product |
| 13 | **place** | past | Witch *not said here* | cloth |  | the chest with the padlock |  |  | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent it=Theme out chest=Destination |
| 14 | **secure** | past | Witch | the door |  |  |  | with a great crossbeam; lastly *property* | vn shake-22.3-2-1 «NP V NP PP»: agent=Agent door=Patient with crossbeam=Co-Patient |
| 15 | **fasten** | participle |  | a great crossbeam *not said here* |  | the jambs |  |  | vn shake-22.3-2-1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Patient |
| 16 | **not** **enter** | could | the witches |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1-2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 17 | **do** | gerund · perfect | Witch *not said here* | this things |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Eventuality |
| 18 | **wait** | past | Witch | this things *not said here* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 19 | **spell** |  | enchantments *= enchantment* |  |  |  |  |  | nom spell «state transitive»: poss=agent |
| 20 | **absent** |  | Spirit |  |  |  |  |  | nom absence «state transitive»: poss=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.

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**Text:** «Celtic Fairy Tales» by Joseph Jacobs, Project Gutenberg book 7885 (public domain in the USA). **Tree:** Mova's own parse, Elamur Cosmic License. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), the chapter read in order.

<!-- /div -->

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