---
title: deacon — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «deacon» in the school dictionary: A deacon is a church minister below a priest, or in many Protestant churches a member chosen to help with services, care and practical work. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# deacon

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** deacon, Mr, Deacons, people, Stephen, Bible · **What happens:** be, choose, help, share, read, visit · **To what, where:** church minister, priest, member, first deacons, Bible, food · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A deacon is a church minister below a priest, or in many Protestant churches a member chosen to help with services, care and practical work.

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deacon:m1:1
# text = A deacon is a church minister below a priest, or in many Protestant churches a member chosen to help with services, care and practical work.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	deacon	deacon	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	minister	minister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	below	below	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	priest	priest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
13	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
14	Protestant	protestant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	churches	church	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	appos	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	member	member	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	conj	_	_
18	chosen	choose	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	17	acl	_	_
19	to	to	PART	TO	_	20	mark	_	_
20	help	help	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	18	advcl	_	_
21	with	with	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
22	services	service	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	24	punct	_	_
24	care	care	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	conj	_	_
25	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	27	cc	_	_
26	practical	practical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	27	amod	_	_
27	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a deacon | a church minister |  | a priest |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **choose** | participle |  | a member *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **help** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | with services and care and practical work | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent with service=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: Bible — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the Bible, the first deacons were chosen to help share food fairly.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deacon:m2:1
# text = In the Bible, the first deacons were chosen to help share food fairly.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	Bible	Bible	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	7	amod	_	_
7	deacons	deacon	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	chosen	choose	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	help	help	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	advcl	_	_
12	share	share	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	xcomp	_	_
13	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	_
14	fairly	fairly	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **choose** | past · passive |  | the first deacons |  | the Bible |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |
| 2 | **help** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 3 | **share** | infinitive |  | food |  |  |  | fairly *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The deacon read the Gospel at mass.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deacon:x1:1
# text = The deacon read the Gospel at mass.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	deacon	deacon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	read	read	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	Gospel	Gospel	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	mass	mass	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 | **read** | past | the deacon | the Gospel |  | mass |  |  | vn register-54.1-2-1 «NP V NP PP.value»: agent=Agent gospel=Theme at mass=Value |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mr Jones is a deacon at our chapel.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deacon:x2:1
# text = Mr Jones is a deacon at our chapel.
1	Mr	Mr	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	Jones	Jones	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	flat	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	deacon	deacon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	chapel	chapel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Mr | a deacon |  | our chapel |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Deacons visit people who are ill.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deacon:x3:1
# text = Deacons visit people who are ill.
1	Deacons	deacon	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	visit	visit	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
5	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	ill	ill	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **visit** | present | Deacons | people |  |  |  |  | vn meet-36.3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent people=Co-Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present | people |  |  |  |  | ill *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stephen was one of the first deacons, the Bible says.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deacon:x4:1
# text = Stephen was one of the first deacons, the Bible says.
1	Stephen	Stephen	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	7	amod	_	_
7	deacons	deacon	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	Bible	Bible	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
11	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | Stephen | one |  |  |  | of the first deacons | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | the Bible | the first deacons *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent deacon=Topic |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She was ordained as a deacon.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deacon:x5:1
# text = She was ordained as a deacon.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	ordained	ordain	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	as	as	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	deacon	deacon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ordain** | past · passive |  | She |  |  |  | as a deacon | vn appoint-29.1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: subject=Theme as deacon=Attribute |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The deacon helped give out communion.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deacon:x6:1
# text = The deacon helped give out communion.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	deacon	deacon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	helped	help	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	give	give	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
5	out	out	ADP	RP	_	4	compound:prt	_	_
6	communion	communion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | past | the deacon |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **give out** | infinitive | the deacon *not said here* | communion |  |  |  |  | vn contribute-13.2 «NP V NP.theme (PP)»: agent=Agent communion=Theme |

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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.

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