---
title: christening — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «christening» in the school dictionary: A christening is a church ceremony in which a baby is baptised, given its Christian name and welcomed into the Church. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# christening

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** christening, baby, launch, We, baby cousin, vicar · **What happens:** be, baptise, give, welcome, name, joke · **To what, where:** church ceremony, baby, Christian name, Church, new thing, christening

<!-- .vabout -->
«christening» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [christening in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/christening.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A christening is a church ceremony in which a baby is baptised, given its Christian name and welcomed into the Church.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:christening:m1:1
# text = A christening is a church ceremony in which a baby is baptised, given its Christian name and welcomed into the Church.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	christening	christening	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	church	church	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	ceremony	ceremony	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	12	obl	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj:pass	_	_
11	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	aux:pass	_	_
12	baptised	baptise	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	given	give	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	12	conj	_	_
15	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	17	nmod:poss	_	_
16	Christian	Christian	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	_
18	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	welcomed	welcome	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	12	conj	_	_
20	into	into	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
21	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	Church	Church	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	19	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a christening | a church ceremony |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **baptise** | present · passive |  | a baby |  | a church ceremony |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **give** | participle |  | baby's Christian name |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent name=Theme |
| 4 | **welcome** | participle |  |  |  | the Church |  |  | vn admit-64.3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 5 | **name** |  | baby |  |  |  |  |  | nom name «communication 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 -->
The first use of a new thing, such as a ship's launch or new shoes (joking).

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:christening:m2:1
# text = The first use of a new thing, such as a ship's launch or new shoes (joking).
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	3	amod	_	_
3	use	use	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
9	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	14	case	_	_
10	as	as	ADP	IN	_	9	fixed	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	ship	ship	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	's	's	PART	POS	_	12	case	_	_
14	launch	launch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
16	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	shoes	shoe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	conj	_	_
18	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	joking	joke	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	14	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **joke** *speech: other* | gerund | a ship's launch or new shoes *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn chit\_chat-37.6 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **use** |  |  | a new thing |  |  |  |  | nom use «act transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We went to my baby cousin's christening on Sunday.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:christening:x1:1
# text = We went to my baby cousin's christening on Sunday.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
4	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
5	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	cousin	cousin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	's	's	PART	POS	_	6	case	_	_
8	christening	christening	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
9	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	Sunday	Sunday	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | past | We |  |  | my baby cousin's christening | sunday |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme to christening=Initial\_Location |
| 2 | **christen** |  | my baby cousin |  |  |  |  |  | nom christening «act transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The baby wore a long white christening gown.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:christening:x2:1
# text = The baby wore a long white christening gown.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	baby	baby	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	8	det	_	_
5	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
6	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
7	christening	christening	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	gown	gown	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
At the christening the vicar poured water on her head.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:christening:x3:1
# text = At the christening the vicar poured water on her head.
1	At	at	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	christening	christening	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	vicar	vicar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	poured	pour	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pour** | past | the vicar | water |  | the christening |  | on vicar's head | vn preparing-26.3-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent water=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My aunt and uncle are my godparents from my christening.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:christening:x4:1
# text = My aunt and uncle are my godparents from my christening.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	aunt	aunt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	uncle	uncle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
5	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	godparents	godparent	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
8	from	from	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	christening	christening	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | My aunt and uncle | my godparents |  | my christening |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **christen** |  | my |  |  |  |  |  | nom christening «act transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In Sleeping Beauty, the bad fairy came to the christening.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:christening:x5:1
# text = In Sleeping Beauty, the bad fairy came to the christening.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	Sleeping	Sleeping	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	Beauty	Beauty	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	fairy	fairy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	to	to	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	christening	christening	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | past | the bad fairy |  |  | Sleeping Beauty |  | to the christening | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme to christening=Initial\_Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We had cake and sandwiches after the christening.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:christening:x6:1
# text = We had cake and sandwiches after the christening.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	cake	cake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	sandwiches	sandwich	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	conj	_	_
6	after	after	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	christening	christening	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | We | cake and sandwiches |  |  | after the christening |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cake=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The new ship's christening was done by breaking a bottle on it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:christening:x7:1
# text = The new ship's christening was done by breaking a bottle on it.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	ship	ship	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	's	's	PART	POS	_	3	case	_	_
5	christening	christening	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	done	do	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
8	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
9	breaking	break	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	advcl	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	bottle	bottle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
12	on	on	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | past · passive |  | the new ship's christening |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Eventuality |
| 2 | **break** | gerund |  | a bottle |  | christening |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer bottle=Patient |
| 3 | **christen** |  |  | the new ship |  |  |  |  | nom christening «act transitive»: poss=patient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A few weeks later the minister was asked to attend a christening in the neighbouring town.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:christening:x8:1
# text = A few weeks later the minister was asked to attend a christening in the neighbouring town.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	few	few	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	weeks	week	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl:unmarked	_	_
4	later	late	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	8	advmod	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	minister	minister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj:pass	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux:pass	_	_
8	asked	ask	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	attend	attend	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	xcomp	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	christening	christening	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	neighbouring	neighbour	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	16	amod	_	_
16	town	town	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ask** *speech: ask* | past · passive |  | the minister |  |  |  | late *property* | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP whether S\_INF»: subject=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 2 | **attend** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | the minister *not said here* | a christening |  | the neighbouring town |  |  | vn attend-107.4-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme christening=Goal |
| 3 | **neighbour** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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