---
title: apostle — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «apostle» in the school dictionary: An apostle is one of the twelve men Jesus chose to be his closest followers and send out to spread his teaching, such as Peter, James and John; Paul is also called an apostle. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# apostle

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** apostle, Jesus, strong supporter, Peter, apostles, Paul · **What happens:** be, choose, send out, spread, call, teach · **To what, where:** one, closest followers, teaching, Paul, strong supporter, new idea · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«apostle» 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: [apostle in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/apostle.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An apostle is one of the twelve men Jesus chose to be his closest followers and send out to spread his teaching, such as Peter, James and John; Paul is also called an apostle.

<!-- fold The tree, 34 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:apostle:m1:1
# text = An apostle is one of the twelve men Jesus chose to be his closest followers and send out to spread his teaching, such as Peter, James and John; Paul is also called an apostle.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	apostle	apostle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	10	obl	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	twelve	twelve	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	men	man	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
9	Jesus	Jesus	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
10	chose	choose	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	15	mark	_	_
12	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	cop	_	_
13	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	15	nmod:poss	_	_
14	closest	close	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	15	amod	_	_
15	followers	follower	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	advcl	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	send	send	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	conj	_	_
18	out	out	ADP	RP	_	17	compound:prt	_	_
19	to	to	PART	TO	_	20	mark	_	_
20	spread	spread	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	17	advcl	_	_
21	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	22	nmod:poss	_	_
22	teaching	teaching	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	26	punct	_	_
24	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	26	case	_	_
25	as	as	ADP	IN	_	24	fixed	_	_
26	Peter	Peter	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	22	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	28	punct	_	_
28	James	James	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	26	conj	_	_
29	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	30	cc	_	_
30	John	John	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	26	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	35	punct	_	_
32	Paul	Paul	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	35	nsubj:pass	_	_
33	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	35	aux:pass	_	_
34	also	also	ADV	RB	_	35	advmod	_	_
35	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	conj	_	_
36	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	37	det	_	_
37	apostle	apostle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	35	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
38	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a apostle | one |  |  |  | of the twelve men | tree rules |
| 2 | **choose** | past | Jesus |  |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is a** | to-infinitive | Jesus *not said here* | Jesus's closest followers |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **send out** | infinitive | Jesus *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn confine-92-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 5 | **spread** | to-infinitive | Jesus *not said here* | Jesus's teaching |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location teaching=Theme |
| 6 | **call** | present · passive |  | Paul |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: subject=Recipient |
| 7 | **teach** |  | Jesus |  |  |  |  |  | nom teaching «act 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.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An apostle is a strong supporter who spreads a new idea, as in "an apostle of clean energy".

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:apostle:m2:1
# text = An apostle is a strong supporter who spreads a new idea, as in "an apostle of clean energy".
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	apostle	apostle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	supporter	supporter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
8	spreads	spread	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
13	as	as	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
14	in	in	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
15	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	apostle	apostle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	parataxis	_	_
18	of	of	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	clean	clean	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
20	energy	energy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a apostle | a strong supporter |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **spread** | present | a strong supporter | a new idea |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Peter was one of the twelve apostles.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:apostle:x1:1
# text = Peter was one of the twelve apostles.
1	Peter	Peter	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	twelve	twelve	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
7	apostles	apostle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | Peter | one |  |  |  | of the twelve apostles | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The apostles travelled far to tell people about Jesus.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:apostle:x2:1
# text = The apostles travelled far to tell people about Jesus.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	apostles	apostle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	travelled	travel	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	far	far	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	3	advmod	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	tell	tell	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
7	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	iobj	_	_
8	about	about	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	Jesus	Jesus	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **travel** | past | the apostles |  |  |  |  | far *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive | the apostles *not said here* |  | people |  |  | about Jesus | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent people=Recipient about jesus=Topic |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Paul wrote many letters to churches and is called an apostle.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:apostle:x3:1
# text = Paul wrote many letters to churches and is called an apostle.
1	Paul	Paul	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	wrote	write	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	letters	letter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	churches	church	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux:pass	_	_
9	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	conj	_	_
10	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	apostle	apostle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | past | Paul | many letters | churches |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent letter=Topic to church=Recipient |
| 2 | **call** | present · passive | Paul *not said here* | a apostle |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V» |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We said the Apostles' Creed in assembly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:apostle:x4:1
# text = We said the Apostles' Creed in assembly.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	Apostles	Apostle	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	6	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	'	's	PART	POS	_	4	case	_	_
6	Creed	Creed	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	ccomp	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	assembly	assembly	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | We |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Twelve Apostles are also tall rocks on the coast of Australia.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:apostle:x5:1
# text = The Twelve Apostles are also tall rocks on the coast of Australia.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	Twelve	twelve	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	3	nummod	_	_
3	Apostles	Apostle	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
4	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	also	also	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
6	tall	tall	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	rocks	rock	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	coast	coast	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	Australia	Australia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the Twelve Apostles | tall rocks |  | the coast of Australia |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She is an apostle of recycling and nags everyone to do it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:apostle:x6:1
# text = She is an apostle of recycling and nags everyone to do it.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	apostle	apostle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	recycling	recycling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	nags	nag	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
9	everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	8	obj	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	xcomp	_	_
12	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | She | a apostle |  |  |  | of recycling | tree rules |
| 2 | **nag** | present | She *not said here* | everyone |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **do** | to-infinitive | She *not said here* | recycling |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Eventuality |

<!-- div src -->

**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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