circumlocution Who acts: Circumlocution, gentle circumlocution, answer, minister, you, Experiencing · What happens: use, say, avoid, be, pass away, die · To what, where: many words, something, Circumlocution, one such roundabout phrase, gentle circumlocution, pure circumlocution · Speech: someone speaks here
«circumlocution» 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: circumlocution in the school dictionary .
Meaning 1 Usage: formal — kept apart, not parsed.
Circumlocution is using many words to say something that could be said simply, often to avoid saying it directly.
The tree, 19 words nsubj aux amod obj mark advcl obj nsubj:pass aux aux:pass acl:relcl advmod punct advmod mark conj xcomp obj advmod punct root Circumlocution NOUN is AUX using VERB many ADJ words NOUN to PART say VERB something PRON that PRON could AUX be AUX said VERB simply ADV , PUNCT often ADV to PART avoid VERB saying VERB it PRON directly ADV . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Circumlocution circumlocution NOUN Number=Sing 3 using nsubj 2 is be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 3 using aux 3 using use VERB Tense=Pres VerbForm=Part root root 4 many many ADJ Degree=Pos 5 words amod 5 words word NOUN Number=Plur 3 using obj 6 to to PART _ 7 say mark 7 say say VERB VerbForm=Inf 3 using advcl 8 something something PRON Number=Sing PronType=Ind 7 say obj 9 that that PRON PronType=Rel 12 said nsubj:pass 10 could could AUX VerbForm=Fin 12 said aux 11 be be AUX VerbForm=Inf 12 said aux:pass 12 said say VERB Tense=Past VerbForm=Part Voice=Pass 8 something acl:relcl 13 simply simply ADV _ 12 said advmod 14 , , PUNCT _ 17 avoid punct 15 often often ADV _ 17 avoid advmod 16 to to PART _ 17 avoid mark 17 avoid avoid VERB VerbForm=Inf 12 said conj 18 saying say VERB VerbForm=Ger 17 avoid xcomp 19 it it PRON Case=Acc Gender=Neut Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs 18 saying obj 20 directly directly ADV _ 18 saying advmod 21 . . PUNCT _ 3 using punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 use present · progressive Circumlocution many words vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent word=Patient 2 say speech: assert to-infinitive Circumlocution not said here something vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent something=Topic 3 say speech: assert could · passive simply property vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: subject=Topic 4 avoid to-infinitive often property vn avoid-52 «NP V S_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Theme 5 say speech: assert gerund Circumlocution directly property vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent it=Topic
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 A circumlocution is one such roundabout phrase.
det nsubj cop nummod amod compound punct root A DET circumlocution NOUN is AUX one NUM such ADJ roundabout NOUN phrase NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 A a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 2 circumlocution det 2 circumlocution circumlocution NOUN Number=Sing 7 phrase nsubj 3 is be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 7 phrase cop 4 one one NUM NumForm=Word NumType=Card 7 phrase nummod 5 such such ADJ Degree=Pos 7 phrase amod 6 roundabout roundabout NOUN Number=Sing 7 phrase compound 7 phrase phrase NOUN Number=Sing root root 8 . . PUNCT _ 7 phrase punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 is a present a circumlocution one such roundabout phrase tree rules
Example 1 «Passed away» is a gentle circumlocution for «died».
punct csubj advmod punct cop det amod case punct acl:relcl punct punct root « PUNCT Passed VERB away ADV » PUNCT is AUX a DET gentle ADJ circumlocution NOUN for ADP « PUNCT died VERB » PUNCT . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 « « PUNCT _ 2 Passed punct 2 Passed pass VERB Tense=Past VerbForm=Part Voice=Pass 8 circumlocution csubj 3 away away ADV _ 2 Passed advmod 4 » » PUNCT _ 2 Passed punct 5 is be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 8 circumlocution cop 6 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 8 circumlocution det 7 gentle gentle ADJ Degree=Pos 8 circumlocution amod 8 circumlocution circumlocution NOUN Number=Sing root root 9 for for ADP _ 11 died case 10 « « PUNCT _ 11 died punct 11 died die VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin 8 circumlocution acl:relcl 12 » » PUNCT _ 8 circumlocution punct 13 . . PUNCT _ 8 circumlocution punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 pass away in a quote participle away property vn die-42.4-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient 2 is a present a gentle circumlocution tree rules 3 die in a quote past a gentle circumlocution not said here vn calibratable_cos-45.6.1 «NP.attribute V»: agent=Attribute
Example 2 The minister's answer was pure circumlocution.
det nmod:poss case nsubj cop amod punct root The DET minister NOUN 's PART answer NOUN was AUX pure ADJ circumlocution NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 The the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 2 minister det 2 minister minister NOUN Number=Sing 4 answer nmod:poss 3 's 's PART _ 2 minister case 4 answer answer NOUN Number=Sing 7 circumlocution nsubj 5 was be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin 7 circumlocution cop 6 pure pure ADJ Degree=Pos 7 circumlocution amod 7 circumlocution circumlocution NOUN Number=Sing root root 8 . . PUNCT _ 7 circumlocution punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 is a past the minister's answer pure circumlocution tree rules 2 answer the minister nom answer «communication transitive»: poss=agent
Example 3 Cut the circumlocution and tell me what happened.
det obj cc conj iobj nsubj ccomp punct root Cut VERB the DET circumlocution NOUN and CCONJ tell VERB me PRON what PRON happened VERB . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Cut cut VERB Mood=Imp VerbForm=Fin root root 2 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 3 circumlocution det 3 circumlocution circumlocution NOUN Number=Sing 1 Cut obj 4 and and CCONJ _ 5 tell cc 5 tell tell VERB Mood=Imp VerbForm=Fin 1 Cut conj 6 me I PRON Case=Acc Number=Sing Person=1 PronType=Prs 5 tell iobj 7 what what PRON PronType=Int 8 happened nsubj 8 happened happen VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin 5 tell ccomp 9 . . PUNCT _ 1 Cut punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 cut imperative you not said here the circumlocution vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset circumlocution=Product 2 tell speech: assert infinitive you not said here me vn transfer_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP what S»: agent=Agent i=Recipient clause=Topic 3 happen past vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme
Example 4 «Experiencing a cash-flow problem» is a circumlocution for «having no money».
The tree, 12 words punct csubj det compound punct compound obj punct cop det mark punct acl det obj punct punct root « PUNCT Experiencing VERB a DET cash NOUN - PUNCT flow NOUN problem NOUN » PUNCT is AUX a DET circumlocution NOUN for SCONJ « PUNCT having VERB no DET money NOUN » PUNCT . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 « « PUNCT _ 2 Experiencing punct 2 Experiencing experience VERB VerbForm=Ger 11 circumlocution csubj 3 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 7 problem det 4 cash cash NOUN Number=Sing 6 flow compound 5 - - PUNCT _ 4 cash punct 6 flow flow NOUN Number=Sing 7 problem compound 7 problem problem NOUN Number=Sing 2 Experiencing obj 8 » » PUNCT _ 2 Experiencing punct 9 is be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 11 circumlocution cop 10 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 11 circumlocution det 11 circumlocution circumlocution NOUN Number=Sing root root 12 for for SCONJ _ 14 having mark 13 « « PUNCT _ 14 having punct 14 having have VERB VerbForm=Ger 11 circumlocution acl 15 no no DET PronType=Neg 16 money det 16 money money NOUN Number=Sing 14 having obj 17 » » PUNCT _ 14 having punct 18 . . PUNCT _ 11 circumlocution punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 experience in a quote gerund a flow problem vn sight-30.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer problem=Stimulus 2 is a present Experiencing a circumlocution tree rules 3 have in a quote gerund a circumlocution not said here no money vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent money=Patient
Example 5 Good writers avoid circumlocution.
amod nsubj obj punct root Good ADJ writers NOUN avoid VERB circumlocution NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Good good ADJ Degree=Pos 2 writers amod 2 writers writer NOUN Number=Plur 3 avoid nsubj 3 avoid avoid VERB Mood=Ind Number=Plur Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin root root 4 circumlocution circumlocution NOUN Number=Sing 3 avoid obj 5 . . PUNCT _ 3 avoid punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 avoid present Good writers circumlocution vn avoid-52 «NP V NP.location»: agent=Agent circumlocution=Location
Example 6 His speech was full of circumlocution.
nmod:poss nsubj cop case obl punct root His PRON speech NOUN was AUX full ADJ of ADP circumlocution NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 His his PRON Case=Gen Gender=Masc Number=Sing Person=3 Poss=Yes PronType=Prs 2 speech nmod:poss 2 speech speech NOUN Number=Sing 4 full nsubj 3 was be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin 4 full cop 4 full full ADJ Degree=Pos root root 5 of of ADP _ 6 circumlocution case 6 circumlocution circumlocution NOUN Number=Sing 4 full obl 7 . . PUNCT _ 4 full punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 is past His speech of circumlocution; full property tree rules 2 speak His = he nom speech «communication transitive»: poss=agent
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.
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