---
title: custody — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «custody» in the school dictionary: Being kept by the police or in prison, usually while waiting to go to court: the suspect was taken into custody. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# custody

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** police, court, legal right, parents, mum, Care · **What happens:** keep, wait, go, take, look, separate · **To what, where:** court, suspect, custody, thief, He, joint custody

<!-- .vabout -->
«custody» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [custody in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/custody.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Being kept by the police or in prison, usually while waiting to go to court: the suspect was taken into custody.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:custody:m1:1
# text = Being kept by the police or in prison, usually while waiting to go to court: the suspect was taken into custody.
1	Being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	aux:pass	_	_
2	kept	keep	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
3	by	by	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	police	police	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	prison	prison	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
11	while	while	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
12	waiting	wait	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	conj	_	_
13	to	to	PART	TO	_	14	mark	_	_
14	go	go	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	xcomp	_	_
15	to	to	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	court	court	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	21	punct	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	suspect	suspect	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	nsubj:pass	_	_
20	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	21	aux:pass	_	_
21	taken	take	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	16	acl:relcl	_	_
22	into	into	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
23	custody	custody	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | gerund · passive | the police or prison |  |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **wait** | gerund | the police or prison *not said here* |  |  |  |  | usually *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **go** | to-infinitive | the police or prison *not said here* |  |  | court |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme to court=Initial\_Location |
| 4 | **take** | past · passive | court *not said here* | the suspect |  | custody |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP PP.destination»: subject=Theme into custody=Destination |

<!-- .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 legal right and duty to look after a child, especially after parents separate: his mum has custody.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:custody:m2:1
# text = The legal right and duty to look after a child, especially after parents separate: his mum has custody.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	legal	legal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	right	right	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	duty	duty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	look	look	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
8	after	after	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	child	child	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
12	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
13	after	after	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
14	parents	parent	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	nsubj	_	_
15	separate	separate	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	19	punct	_	_
17	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	18	nmod:poss	_	_
18	mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	nsubj	_	_
19	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	parataxis	_	_
20	custody	custody	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | to-infinitive | the legal right and duty |  |  |  | after a child |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **separate** | present | parents |  |  |  |  | especially *property* | vn separate-23.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **have** | present | child's mum | custody |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent custody=Patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Care and keeping of something valuable: the museum has custody of the paintings.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:custody:m3:1
# text = Care and keeping of something valuable: the museum has custody of the paintings.
1	Care	care	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	keeping	keep	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	conj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	obl	_	_
6	valuable	valuable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	museum	museum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
10	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	custody	custody	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
12	of	of	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	paintings	painting	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | gerund | Care *not said here* |  |  |  |  | of something | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **have** | present | Care | custody of the paintings |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent custody=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The police took the thief into custody.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:custody:x1:1
# text = The police took the thief into custody.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	police	police	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	took	take	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	thief	thief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	into	into	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	custody	custody	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | past | the police | the thief |  | custody |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent thief=Theme into custody=Destination |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He is being held in custody until the trial.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:custody:x2:1
# text = He is being held in custody until the trial.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
3	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	held	hold	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	custody	custody	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
7	until	until	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	trial	trial	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hold** | present · passive |  | He |  | custody | until the trial |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: subject=Theme in custody=Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
After the divorce, her parents share joint custody.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:custody:x3:1
# text = After the divorce, her parents share joint custody.
1	After	after	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	divorce	divorce	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	parents	parent	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
7	share	share	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	joint	joint	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	custody	custody	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **share** | present | her parents | joint custody |  |  | after the divorce |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her dad has custody of the children at weekends.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:custody:x4:1
# text = Her dad has custody of the children at weekends.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	custody	custody	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
8	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	weekends	weekend	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Her dad | custody of the children at weekends |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent custody=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
(formal) The jewels were kept in safe custody at the bank.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:custody:x5:1
# text = (formal) The jewels were kept in safe custody at the bank.
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	formal	formal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
4	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	jewels	jewel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
6	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	kept	keep	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	safe	safe	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	custody	custody	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
11	at	at	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	bank	bank	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | past · passive |  | the formal jewels |  | safe custody |  | at the bank | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: subject=Theme in custody=Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The suspect escaped from custody but was caught again.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:custody:x6:1
# text = The suspect escaped from custody but was caught again.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	suspect	suspect	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	escaped	escape	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	from	from	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	custody	custody	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
6	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux:pass	_	_
8	caught	catch	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	conj	_	_
9	again	again	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **escape** | past | the suspect |  |  | custody |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme from custody=Initial\_Location |
| 2 | **catch** | past · passive | the suspect *not said here* |  |  |  | again |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP» |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A man was arrested for having caused his death, and held in custody till a gallows was erected.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:custody:x7:1
# text = A man was arrested for having caused his death, and held in custody till a gallows was erected.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	arrested	arrest	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	having	have	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	aux	_	_
7	caused	cause	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	4	xcomp	_	_
8	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	death	death	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	held	hold	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	conj	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	custody	custody	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	_
15	till	till	SCONJ	IN	_	19	mark	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	gallows	gallows	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	nsubj:pass	_	_
18	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	19	aux:pass	_	_
19	erected	erect	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	12	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **arrest** | past · passive |  | a man |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **cause** | gerund · perfect |  | man's death |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition death=Patient |
| 3 | **hold** | participle |  |  |  | custody |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in custody=Location |
| 4 | **erect** | past · passive |  | a gallows |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Product |
| 5 | **die** |  | man |  |  |  |  |  | nom death «event intransitive»: 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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