---
title: abdicate — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «abdicate» in the school dictionary: To abdicate is to give up being king or queen. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# abdicate

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Edward, Margrethe, emperor, Parents, brother, She · **What happens:** abdicate, be, not do, marry, force, not abdicate · **To what, where:** responsibility, something, Edward, 1936, 2024, emperor

<!-- .vabout -->
«abdicate» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 7 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: [abdicate in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/abdicate.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To abdicate is to give up being king or queen.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abdicate:m1:1
# text = To abdicate is to give up being king or queen.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	abdicate	abdicate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	give	give	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	up	up	ADP	RP	_	8	case	_	_
7	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	8	cop	_	_
8	king	king	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	queen	queen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **abdicate** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn resign-10.11-2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | give *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **is** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | up king or queen | tree rules |

<!-- .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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To abdicate a responsibility is to fail to do something you should.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abdicate:m2:1
# text = To abdicate a responsibility is to fail to do something you should.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	abdicate	abdicate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	advcl	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	responsibility	responsibility	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	fail	fail	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
10	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	obj	_	_
11	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
12	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **abdicate** | to-infinitive |  | a responsibility |  |  |  |  | vn resign-10.11-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent responsibility=Source |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | fail *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **not** **do** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
King Edward VIII abdicated in 1936 so he could marry.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abdicate:x1:1
# text = King Edward VIII abdicated in 1936 so he could marry.
1	King	King	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nmod:desc	_	_
2	Edward	Edward	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	VIII	VIII	NUM	CD	NumForm=Roman|NumType=Card	2	flat	_	_
4	abdicated	abdicate	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	1936	1936	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	obl	_	_
7	so	so	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
8	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
9	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	marry	marry	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **abdicate** | participle |  | Edward  King *not said here* |  | 1936 |  |  | vn resign-10.11-2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **marry** | could | Edward |  |  |  |  |  | vn amalgamate-22.2-3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Queen Margrethe of Denmark abdicated in 2024.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abdicate:x2:1
# text = Queen Margrethe of Denmark abdicated in 2024.
1	Queen	Queen	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nmod:desc	_	_
2	Margrethe	Margrethe	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	Denmark	Denmark	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
5	abdicated	abdicate	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	2024	2024	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **abdicate** | past | Margrethe  Queen of Denmark |  |  | 2024 |  |  | vn resign-10.11-2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The emperor was forced to abdicate.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abdicate:x3:1
# text = The emperor was forced to abdicate.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	emperor	emperor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	forced	force	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	abdicate	abdicate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **force** | past · passive |  | the emperor |  |  |  |  | vn urge-58.1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: subject=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 2 | **abdicate** | to-infinitive | the emperor *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn resign-10.11-2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Parents cannot abdicate their responsibility to keep children safe.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abdicate:x4:1
# text = Parents cannot abdicate their responsibility to keep children safe.
1	Parents	parent	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	abdicate	abdicate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	responsibility	responsibility	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
9	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	_
10	safe	safe	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **abdicate** | can | Parents | Parents's responsibility |  |  |  |  | vn resign-10.11-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent responsibility=Source |
| 2 | **keep** | to-infinitive | Parents *not said here* | children |  |  |  | safe *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent child=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
After the king abdicated, his brother became king.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abdicate:x5:1
# text = After the king abdicated, his brother became king.
1	After	after	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	king	king	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
4	abdicated	abdicate	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	became	become	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
9	king	king	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **abdicate** | past |  |  |  |  | after the king |  | vn resign-10.11-2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **become** | past | king's brother | king |  |  |  |  | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She refused to abdicate.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abdicate:x6:1
# text = She refused to abdicate.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	refused	refuse	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	abdicate	abdicate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **refuse** | past | She |  |  |  |  |  | vn reject-77.2 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **not** **abdicate** | to-infinitive | She *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn resign-10.11-2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
But the old king, who had never expected that Jason would return alive, basely refused to fulfil his part of the compact, and declined to abdicate the throne.

<!-- fold The tree, 28 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abdicate:x7:1
# text = But the old king, who had never expected that Jason would return alive, basely refused to fulfil his part of the compact, and declined to abdicate the throne.
1	But	but	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	king	king	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
6	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj:pass	_	_
7	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
8	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
9	expected	expect	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl:relcl	_	_
10	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
11	Jason	Jason	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
12	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	13	aux	_	_
13	return	return	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
14	alive	alive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
16	basely	basely	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
17	refused	refuse	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	13	parataxis	_	_
18	to	to	PART	TO	_	19	mark	_	_
19	fulfil	fulfil	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	17	xcomp	_	_
20	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	21	nmod:poss	_	_
21	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obj	_	_
22	of	of	ADP	IN	_	24	case	_	_
23	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
24	compact	compact	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	27	punct	_	_
26	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	27	cc	_	_
27	declined	decline	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	17	conj	_	_
28	to	to	PART	TO	_	29	mark	_	_
29	abdicate	abdicate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	27	xcomp	_	_
30	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	31	det	_	_
31	throne	throne	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	29	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
32	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	13	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **expect** | past · perfect · passive |  | the old king |  |  |  | Jason *obl* | vn conjecture-29.5-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |
| 2 | **return** | would | the old king |  |  |  |  | alive *property* | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **refuse** | past |  |  |  |  |  | basely *property* | vn reject-77.2 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 4 | **not** **fulfil** | to-infinitive |  | king's part of the compact |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **decline** | past |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn reject-77.2 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 6 | **not** **abdicate** | to-infinitive |  | the throne |  |  |  |  | vn resign-10.11-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent throne=Source |

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**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 -->

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