Resolving Multiple Hyperonymy.

WordNet contains a fair number of synsets with multiple hyperonyms. In parent–child relations, a child can have only one parent (ancestor). Consequently, multiple hyperonymy represents distinct semantic relations. In order to reclassify the multiple hyperonyms, we define a small set of new semantic relations (such as function, origin and form) that cover the various instances of multiple hyperonyms. The synsets with multiple hyperonyms that lead to the same root and belong to the same semantic class were grouped automatically, resulting in semantic patterns that serve as a point of departure for the classification. The proposed changes are based on semantic analysis and may involve the redefinition of one or several multiple hyperonymy relations to new ones, the removal of one or several multiple hyperonymy relations, and rarely the addition of a new hyperonymy relation. As a result, we incorporate the newly defined semantic relations that resolve the former multiple hyperonymy relations and propose an updated WordNet structure without multiple hyperonyms. The resulting WordNet structure without multiple hyperonyms may be used for a variety of purposes that require proper inheritance.