---
title: circumvent — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «circumvent» in the school dictionary: To find a clever way to avoid a rule, problem or difficulty, often in a way that is not quite fair. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# circumvent

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** way, He, brother, engineers, army, Circumventing · **What happens:** find, avoid, not be, go, be, try · **To what, where:** clever way, way, rule, something, rules, account

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To find a clever way to avoid a rule, problem or difficulty, often in a way that is not quite fair.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:circumvent:m1:1
# text = To find a clever way to avoid a rule, problem or difficulty, often in a way that is not quite fair.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	find	find	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	clever	clever	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	avoid	avoid	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	rule	rule	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
11	problem	problem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	difficulty	difficulty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
15	often	often	ADV	RB	_	18	advmod	_	_
16	in	in	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
19	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	23	nsubj	_	_
20	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	23	cop	_	_
21	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	23	advmod	_	_
22	quite	quite	ADV	RB	_	23	advmod	_	_
23	fair	fair	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **find** | to-infinitive |  | a clever way |  | a way |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent way=Topic |
| 2 | **avoid** | to-infinitive |  | a rule and problem or difficulty |  |  |  |  | vn avoid-52 «NP V NP.location»: agent=Agent rule=Location |
| 3 | **not** **is** | present | a way |  |  |  |  | fair *property* | 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 go around something that is in the way.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:circumvent:m2:1
# text = To go around something that is in the way.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	go	go	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	around	around	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obl	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | to-infinitive |  |  |  | something |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme around something=Initial\_Location |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  | the way |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He tried to circumvent the rules by using his brother's account.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:circumvent:x1:1
# text = He tried to circumvent the rules by using his brother's account.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	tried	try	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	circumvent	circumvent	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
7	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
8	using	use	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	_
9	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	's	's	PART	POS	_	10	case	_	_
12	account	account	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | past | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **circumvent** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | He *not said here* | the rules |  |  |  |  | vn avoid-52 «NP V NP.location»: agent=Agent rule=Location |
| 3 | **use** | gerund | He *not said here* | his brother's account |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent account=Patient |
| 4 | **account** |  | his brother |  |  |  |  |  | nom account «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The engineers circumvented the problem with a new design.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:circumvent:x2:1
# text = The engineers circumvented the problem with a new design.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	engineers	engineer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	circumvented	circumvent	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	problem	problem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	design	design	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **circumvent** | past | the engineers | the problem |  |  |  | with a new design | vn avoid-52 «NP V NP.location»: agent=Agent problem=Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The army circumvented the mountains by marching along the coast.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:circumvent:x3:1
# text = The army circumvented the mountains by marching along the coast.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	army	army	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	circumvented	circumvent	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	mountains	mountain	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	marching	march	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
8	along	along	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	coast	coast	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **circumvent** | past | the army | the mountains |  |  |  |  | vn avoid-52 «NP V NP.location»: agent=Agent mountain=Location |
| 2 | **march** | gerund | the army *not said here* |  |  | the coast |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme along coast=Trajectory |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Circumventing school internet filters is against the rules.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:circumvent:x4:1
# text = Circumventing school internet filters is against the rules.
1	Circumventing	circumvent	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	csubj	_	_
2	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	internet	internet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	filters	filter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
6	against	against	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **circumvent** | gerund |  | internet filters |  |  |  |  | vn avoid-52 «NP V NP.location»: agent=Agent filter=Location |
| 2 | **is** | present | Circumventing |  |  |  |  | against the rules | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She found a way to circumvent the traffic jam.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:circumvent:x5:1
# text = She found a way to circumvent the traffic jam.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	found	find	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	circumvent	circumvent	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	acl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	traffic	traffic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	jam	jam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **find** | past | She | a way |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent way=Topic |
| 2 | **circumvent** | to-infinitive | She *not said here* | the traffic jam |  |  |  |  | vn avoid-52 «NP V NP.location»: agent=Agent jam=Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Good laws are hard to circumvent.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:circumvent:x6:1
# text = Good laws are hard to circumvent.
1	Good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	laws	law	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	circumvent	circumvent	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 | **is** | present | Good laws |  |  |  |  | hard *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **circumvent** | to-infinitive | Good laws *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn avoid-52 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
But the watchful Nephele contrived to circumvent her cruel designs, and succeeded in getting the children out of the palace.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:circumvent:x7:1
# text = But the watchful Nephele contrived to circumvent her cruel designs, and succeeded in getting the children out of the palace.
1	But	but	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	watchful	watchful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	Nephele	Nephele	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	contrived	contrive	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	circumvent	circumvent	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
9	cruel	cruel	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	designs	design	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	succeeded	succeed	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
14	in	in	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
15	getting	get	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	13	advcl	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	obj	_	_
18	out	out	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
19	of	of	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
20	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	palace	palace	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **contrive** | past | the watchful Nephele |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **circumvent** | to-infinitive | the watchful Nephele *not said here* | Nephele's cruel designs |  |  |  |  | vn avoid-52 «NP V NP.location»: agent=Agent design=Location |
| 3 | **succeed** | past | the watchful Nephele *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **get** | gerund | the watchful Nephele *not said here* | the children |  | the palace |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer child=Stimulus |
| 5 | **design** |  | Nephele |  |  |  |  |  | nom design «act transitive»: poss=agent |

<!-- 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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