---
title: forthwith — English dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «forthwith» in the English dictionary: Forthwith means immediately, at once, without delay. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# forthwith

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Forthwith, king, rule, You, judge, Payment · **What happens:** mean, order, take, apply, be, say · **To what, where:** thief, dog, castle, fife, dancing, corner · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«forthwith» in the English dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 10 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: [forthwith in the English dictionary](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/forthwith/).

## Everyday, meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Forthwith means immediately, at once, without delay.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:english:forthwith:m1:1
# text = Forthwith means immediately, at once, without delay.
1	Forthwith	forthwith	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	immediately	immediately	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	once	once	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	without	without	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	delay	delay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Forthwith |  |  |  |  | immediately, once *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=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.

## Early Modern English, meaning 1 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
immediately, without any delay.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:english:forthwith:m2:1
# text = immediately, without any delay.
1	immediately	immediately	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	without	without	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	any	any	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	5	det	_	_
5	delay	delay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The king ordered the thief to be taken to prison forthwith.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:english:forthwith:x1:1
# text = The king ordered the thief to be taken to prison forthwith.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	king	king	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	ordered	order	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	thief	thief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
7	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	aux:pass	_	_
8	taken	take	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	ccomp	_	_
9	to	to	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	prison	prison	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
11	forthwith	forthwith	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **order** | past | the king | the thief |  |  |  |  | vn order-58.3-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent thief=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 2 | **take** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive · passive | the king *not said here* |  |  |  |  | to prison *result*; forthwith *property* | vn convert-26.6.2 «NP V S\_ING»: to prison=Result |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The rule applies forthwith.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:english:forthwith:x2:1
# text = The rule applies forthwith.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	rule	rule	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	applies	apply	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	forthwith	forthwith	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **apply** | present | the rule |  |  |  |  | forthwith *property* | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
You are to report to the head teacher forthwith.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:english:forthwith:x3:1
# text = You are to report to the head teacher forthwith.
1	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	report	report	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
9	forthwith	forthwith	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | You |  |  |  |  | to the head teacher; forthwith, report *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The judge said the dog must be returned forthwith.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:english:forthwith:x4:1
# text = The judge said the dog must be returned forthwith.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	judge	judge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	said	say	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	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj:pass	_	_
6	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
7	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	aux:pass	_	_
8	returned	return	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	ccomp	_	_
9	forthwith	forthwith	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | the judge |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **return** | must · passive |  | the dog |  |  |  | forthwith *property* | vn send-11.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Payment is due forthwith.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:english:forthwith:x5:1
# text = Payment is due forthwith.
1	Payment	payment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	due	due	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	forthwith	forthwith	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Payment |  |  |  |  | forthwith *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The guards left the castle forthwith.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:english:forthwith:x6:1
# text = The guards left the castle forthwith.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	guards	guard	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	left	leave	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	castle	castle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	forthwith	forthwith	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **leave** | past | the guards | the castle |  |  |  | forthwith *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent castle=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ivan began playing on his fife, and forthwith they all fell a-dancing.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:english:forthwith:x7:1
# text = Ivan began playing on his fife, and forthwith they all fell a-dancing.
1	Ivan	Ivan	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	began	begin	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	playing	play	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	fife	fife	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
9	forthwith	forthwith	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
10	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
11	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	10	det	_	_
12	fell	fall	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	dancing	dancing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **begin** | past | Ivan |  |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **play** | gerund | Ivan *not said here* |  |  | Ivan's fife |  |  | vn performance-26.7-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **fall** | past | they | a dancing |  |  |  | forthwith *property* | vn become-109.1-1 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Patient dancing=Result |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ivan began playing on his fife, and forthwith they all fell a-dancing.

<!-- .note -->
From Cossack Fairy Tales and Folk Tales.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:english:forthwith:x8:1
# text = Ivan began playing on his fife, and forthwith they all fell a-dancing.
1	Ivan	Ivan	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	began	begin	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	playing	play	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	fife	fife	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
9	forthwith	forthwith	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
10	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
11	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	10	det	_	_
12	fell	fall	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	dancing	dancing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **begin** | past | Ivan |  |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **play** | gerund | Ivan *not said here* |  |  | Ivan's fife |  |  | vn performance-26.7-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **fall** | past | they | a dancing |  |  |  | forthwith *property* | vn become-109.1-1 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Patient dancing=Result |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Forthwith the other Cock came out of his corner and ruled the roost without a rival.

<!-- .note -->
From Aesop's Fables; a new translation.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:english:forthwith:x9:1
# text = Forthwith the other Cock came out of his corner and ruled the roost without a rival.
1	Forthwith	forthwith	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	Cock	cock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
5	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	out	out	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	corner	corner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	ruled	rule	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	roost	roost	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	_
14	without	without	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	rival	rival	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come out** | past |  | his corner |  |  |  | forthwith the other Cock | vn become-109.1 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Patient corner=Result |
| 2 | **rule** | past |  | the roost |  |  |  | without a rival | vn dub-29.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent roost=Theme |

## Example 10 {#x10}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He was thankful enough to use his remaining wish to a more humble purpose, and forthwith relieved his wife of her encumbrance.

<!-- .note -->
From The Fairy Tales of Charles Perrault.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:english:forthwith:x10:1
# text = He was thankful enough to use his remaining wish to a more humble purpose, and forthwith relieved his wife of her encumbrance.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	thankful	thankful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	enough	enough	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	use	use	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
7	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
8	remaining	remaining	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	wish	wish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
10	to	to	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
12	more	more	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	13	advmod	_	_
13	humble	humble	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	purpose	purpose	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
17	forthwith	forthwith	ADV	RB	_	18	advmod	_	_
18	relieved	relieve	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
19	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	20	nmod:poss	_	_
20	wife	wife	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obj	_	_
21	of	of	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
22	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	23	nmod:poss	_	_
23	encumbrance	encumbrance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | He |  |  |  |  | enough, thankful *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **use** | to-infinitive | He *not said here* | his remaining wish |  |  |  | to a humble purpose | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent wish=Patient |
| 3 | **relieve** | past |  | his wife of wife's encumbrance |  |  |  | forthwith *property* | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus wife=Experiencer |
| 4 | **wish** |  | his *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom wish «feeling intransitive»: poss=agent |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the English dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader, each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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