---
title: covenant — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «covenant» in the school dictionary: A covenant is a solemn promise or agreement between God and people, such as God's covenant with Noah (the rainbow), with Abraham, and with Moses and the Israelites. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# covenant

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** covenant, God, Israelites, priests, Christians, house · **What happens:** be, covenant, write, give, make, put · **To what, where:** solemn promise, formal written agreement, money, charity, covenant, rainbow · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A covenant is a solemn promise or agreement between God and people, such as God's covenant with Noah (the rainbow), with Abraham, and with Moses and the Israelites.

<!-- fold The tree, 29 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:covenant:m1:1
# text = A covenant is a solemn promise or agreement between God and people, such as God's covenant with Noah (the rainbow), with Abraham, and with Moses and the Israelites.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	covenant	covenant	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	solemn	solemn	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	promise	promise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	agreement	agreement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
9	between	between	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	God	God	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
14	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	16	case	_	_
15	as	as	ADP	IN	_	14	fixed	_	_
16	God	God	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	18	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	's	's	PART	POS	_	16	case	_	_
18	covenant	covenant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
19	with	with	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
20	Noah	Noah	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	18	nmod	_	_
21	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	23	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
23	rainbow	rainbow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	23	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	27	punct	_	_
26	with	with	ADP	IN	_	27	case	_	_
27	Abraham	Abraham	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	31	punct	_	_
29	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	31	cc	_	_
30	with	with	ADP	IN	_	31	case	_	_
31	Moses	Moses	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
32	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	34	cc	_	_
33	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	34	det	_	_
34	Israelites	Israelite	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	31	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
35	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a covenant | a solemn promise or agreement between God and people and God's covenant with Noah |  |  |  | with Abraham; with Moses and the Israelites | tree rules |
| 2 | **covenant** |  | God |  |  |  |  | with Noah | nom covenant «communication intransitive»: poss=agent with=obl |

<!-- .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: law, formal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A covenant is a formal written agreement, for example a rule in a house deed or a promise to give money to a charity.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:covenant:m2:1
# text = A covenant is a formal written agreement, for example a rule in a house deed or a promise to give money to a charity.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	covenant	covenant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	formal	formal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	written	write	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	amod	_	_
7	agreement	agreement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	example	example	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	rule	rule	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	compound	_	_
16	deed	deed	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod	_	_
17	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	promise	promise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	conj	_	_
20	to	to	PART	TO	_	21	mark	_	_
21	give	give	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	19	acl	_	_
22	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	obj	_	_
23	to	to	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
24	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
25	charity	charity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | present | a covenant | a formal written agreement and a rule in a house deed or a promise |  |  |  | for example | tree rules |
| 3 | **give** | to-infinitive | a covenant *not said here* | money | a charity |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent money=Theme to charity=Recipient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
God made a covenant with Noah and put a rainbow in the sky.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:covenant:x1:1
# text = God made a covenant with Noah and put a rainbow in the sky.
1	God	God	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	made	make	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	covenant	covenant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	Noah	Noah	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	put	put	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	conj	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	rainbow	rainbow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	sky	sky	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | God | a covenant |  |  |  | with Noah | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent covenant=Product |
| 2 | **put** | infinitive | God *not said here* | a rainbow |  | the sky |  |  | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent rainbow=Theme in sky=Destination |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Israelites promised to keep the covenant.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:covenant:x2:1
# text = The Israelites promised to keep the covenant.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Israelites	Israelite	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	promised	promise	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	covenant	covenant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **promise** *speech: promise* | past | the Israelites |  |  |  |  |  | vn promise-37.13 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **keep** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | the Israelites *not said here* | the covenant |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent covenant=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Ark of the Covenant was carried by priests.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:covenant:x3:1
# text = The Ark of the Covenant was carried by priests.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Ark	Ark	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	Covenant	Covenant	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	carried	carry	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
8	by	by	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	priests	priest	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **carry** | past · passive | priests | the Ark of the Covenant |  |  |  |  | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent subject=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Christians call the time of Jesus the new covenant.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:covenant:x4:1
# text = Christians call the time of Jesus the new covenant.
1	Christians	Christian	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	call	call	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	Jesus	Jesus	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	covenant	covenant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | present | Christians |  |  |  | time |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The house has a covenant saying no shops may be built there.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:covenant:x5:1
# text = The house has a covenant saying no shops may be built there.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	covenant	covenant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj:pass	_	_
6	saying	say	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	acl	_	_
7	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	8	det	_	_
8	shops	shop	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
9	may	may	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
10	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	aux:pass	_	_
11	built	build	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	conj	_	_
12	there	there	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	11	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the house |  |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | gerund | a covenant *not said here* | no shops |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent shop=Topic |
| 3 | **build** | may · passive |  | a covenant |  | there |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: subject=Product |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A covenant is more serious than an ordinary promise.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:covenant:x6:1
# text = A covenant is more serious than an ordinary promise.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	covenant	covenant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	more	more	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	5	advmod	_	_
5	serious	serious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	than	than	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	ordinary	ordinary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	promise	promise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a covenant |  |  |  |  | than a ordinary promise; serious *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I must keep my vow: it is to me even as a covenant with God Himself." And so the little Jewish girl left the Christian school.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* I must keep my vow: it is to me even as a covenant with God Himself."

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:covenant:x7:1
# text = I must keep my vow: it is to me even as a covenant with God Himself."
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	vow	vow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	to	to	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	advcl	_	_
11	even	even	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
12	as	as	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	covenant	covenant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
15	with	with	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	God	God	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	17	compound	_	_
17	Himself	Himself	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	14	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | must | I | my vow |  |  |  | as a covenant with God Himself | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent vow=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present | vow |  |  |  |  | to me | tree rules |
| 3 | **vow** |  | my |  |  |  |  |  | nom vow «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* And so the little Jewish girl left the Christian school.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:covenant:x7:2
# text = And so the little Jewish girl left the Christian school.
1	And	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
2	so	so	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
4	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
5	Jewish	Jewish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	girl	girl	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	left	leave	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	Christian	Christian	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **leave** | past | the little Jewish girl | the Christian school |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent school=Theme |

<!-- 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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