---
title: boycott — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «boycott» in the school dictionary: To refuse to buy, use, take part in or deal with something or someone, as a protest. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# boycott

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** People, Montgomery bus boycott, countries, We, café, boycott · **What happens:** refuse, not buy, use, take in, deal, boycott · **To what, where:** part, kind, buses, rules, Olympic Games, café · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To refuse to buy, use, take part in or deal with something or someone, as a protest.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boycott:m1:1
# text = To refuse to buy, use, take part in or deal with something or someone, as a protest.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	refuse	refuse	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	buy	buy	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	use	use	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	take	take	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
9	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	compound:prt	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	deal	deal	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	8	conj	_	_
13	with	with	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	12	obl	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
18	as	as	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	protest	protest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **refuse** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn reject-77.2 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **not** **buy** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn accept-77.1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **use** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **take in** | infinitive |  | part |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent part=Theme |
| 5 | **deal** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | with something | vn cope-83 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent with something=Theme |

<!-- .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: noun — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An organised refusal of this kind.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boycott:m2:1
# text = An organised refusal of this kind.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	organised	organised	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	refusal	refusal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	6	det	_	_
6	kind	kind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **refuse** |  |  | this kind |  |  |  |  | nom refusal «communication transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
People boycotted the buses until the rules were changed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boycott:x1:1
# text = People boycotted the buses until the rules were changed.
1	People	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	boycotted	boycott	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	buses	bus	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	until	until	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj:pass	_	_
8	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux:pass	_	_
9	changed	change	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **boycott** | past | People | the buses |  |  |  |  | vn avoid-52 «NP V NP.location»: agent=Agent bus=Location |
| 2 | **change** | past · passive |  | the rules |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Montgomery bus boycott lasted over a year.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boycott:x2:1
# text = The Montgomery bus boycott lasted over a year.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	Montgomery	Montgomery	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
3	bus	bus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	boycott	boycott	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	lasted	last	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	over	over	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	year	year	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **last** | past | the Montgomery bus boycott |  |  |  | year |  | vn cost-54.2 «NP V NP.value»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some countries boycotted the Olympic Games.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boycott:x3:1
# text = Some countries boycotted the Olympic Games.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	countries	country	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	boycotted	boycott	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	Olympic	Olympic	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	Games	Game	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **boycott** | past | some countries | the Olympic Games |  |  |  |  | vn avoid-52 «NP V NP.location»: agent=Agent game=Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We boycotted the café after it was rude to our friend.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boycott:x4:1
# text = We boycotted the café after it was rude to our friend.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	boycotted	boycott	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	café	café	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	after	after	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	rude	rude	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	ccomp	_	_
9	to	to	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	friend	friend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **boycott** | past | We | the café |  |  |  |  | vn avoid-52 «NP V NP.location»: agent=Agent café=Location |
| 2 | **is** | past | café |  |  |  |  | to our friend; rude *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A boycott is a peaceful way to protest.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boycott:x5:1
# text = A boycott is a peaceful way to protest.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	boycott	boycott	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	peaceful	peaceful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	protest	protest	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a boycott | a peaceful way |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **protest** *speech: disagree* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn rebel-71.2-2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The students called for a boycott of plastic straws.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:boycott:x6:1
# text = The students called for a boycott of plastic straws.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	students	student	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
3	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	boycott	boycott	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	plastic	plastic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	straws	straw	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | participle |  | the students *not said here* |  |  |  | for a boycott of plastic straws | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V PP.recipient S\_INF»: agent=Agent for boycott=Recipient |
| 2 | **boycott** |  |  | plastic straws |  |  |  |  | nom boycott «act transitive»: of=patient |

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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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