---
title: barrister — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «barrister» in the school dictionary: A lawyer who speaks for people in the higher courts and argues their case in front of a judge. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# barrister

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** lawyer, barrister, cousin, Barristers · **What happens:** speak, argue, be, stand up, train, wear · **To what, where:** higher courts, case, front, barrister, white wig, witness questions · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: law, UK, Ireland, Australia, NZ — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A lawyer who speaks for people in the higher courts and argues their case in front of a judge.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:barrister:m1:1
# text = A lawyer who speaks for people in the higher courts and argues their case in front of a judge.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	lawyer	lawyer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	4	nsubj	_	_
4	speaks	speak	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	higher	high	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	10	amod	_	_
10	courts	court	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	argues	argue	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
13	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	14	nmod:poss	_	_
14	case	case	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	_
15	in	in	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	front	front	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	_
17	of	of	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	judge	judge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **speak** *speech: other* | present | a lawyer |  |  | the higher courts |  | for people | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **argue** *speech: disagree* | present | a lawyer *not said here* | courts's case |  | front of a judge |  |  | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent case=Topic |

<!-- .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 -->
In some countries, the word for lawyer is attorney or counsel.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:barrister:m2:1
# text = In some countries, the word for lawyer is attorney or counsel.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	3	det	_	_
3	countries	country	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	lawyer	lawyer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	attorney	attorney	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	counsel	counsel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | for lawyer attorney or counsel | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The barrister stood up and spoke to the jury.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:barrister:x1:1
# text = The barrister stood up and spoke to the jury.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	barrister	barrister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	stood	stand	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	up	up	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	spoke	speak	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	jury	jury	NOUN	NN	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 | **stand up** | past | the barrister |  |  |  |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **speak** *speech: other* | past | the barrister *not said here* |  |  |  |  | to the jury | vn talk-37.5 «NP V PP.co-agent»: agent=Agent to jury=Co-Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My cousin is training to be a barrister.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:barrister:x2:1
# text = My cousin is training to be a barrister.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	cousin	cousin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	training	train	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
6	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	barrister	barrister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **train** | present · progressive | My cousin |  |  |  |  |  | vn hire-13.5.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | to-infinitive | My cousin *not said here* | a barrister |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The barrister wore a white wig and a black gown.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:barrister:x3:1
# text = The barrister wore a white wig and a black gown.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	barrister	barrister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	wore	wear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	wig	wig	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	black	black	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	gown	gown	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wear** | past | the barrister | a white wig and a black gown |  |  |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent wig=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In court, the barrister asked the witness questions.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:barrister:x4:1
# text = In court, the barrister asked the witness questions.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	court	court	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	barrister	barrister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	asked	ask	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	witness	witness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	questions	question	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ask** *speech: ask* | past | the barrister | the witness questions |  | court |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent question=Recipient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her barrister said she was innocent.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:barrister:x5:1
# text = Her barrister said she was innocent.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	barrister	barrister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	innocent	innocent	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | Her barrister |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | past | barrister |  |  |  |  | innocent *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Barristers must study the law for many years.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:barrister:x6:1
# text = Barristers must study the law for many years.
1	Barristers	barrister	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	study	study	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	law	law	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **study** | must | Barristers | the law |  |  | year |  | vn learn-14-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent law=Topic |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The barrister won the case for the family.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:barrister:x7:1
# text = The barrister won the case for the family.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	barrister	barrister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	won	win	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	case	case	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **win** | past | the barrister | the case |  |  |  | for the family | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent case=Theme for family=Beneficiary |

<!-- 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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