---
title: defeasible — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «defeasible» in the school dictionary: Defeasible means able to be cancelled or overturned, for example a right, a contract or a conclusion that may be undone by new facts. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# defeasible

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Defeasible, new facts, Tweety, bird, judge, agreement · **What happens:** mean, cancel, overturn, undo, be, say · **To what, where:** that, bird, defeasible conclusion, minds, right, theory · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Defeasible means able to be cancelled or overturned, for example a right, a contract or a conclusion that may be undone by new facts.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:defeasible:m1:1
# text = Defeasible means able to be cancelled or overturned, for example a right, a contract or a conclusion that may be undone by new facts.
1	Defeasible	defeasible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	able	able	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
5	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	cancelled	cancel	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	xcomp	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	overturned	overturn	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	for	for	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	example	example	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	right	right	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	contract	contract	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	_
17	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	conclusion	conclusion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	_
20	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	23	nsubj:pass	_	_
21	may	may	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	23	aux	_	_
22	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	23	aux:pass	_	_
23	undone	undo	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	13	parataxis	_	_
24	by	by	ADP	IN	_	26	case	_	_
25	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	26	amod	_	_
26	facts	fact	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	23	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Defeasible |  |  |  |  | able *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **cancel** | to-infinitive · passive | Defeasible *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **overturn** | participle | Defeasible *not said here* |  |  |  |  | for example  a right and a contract or a conclusion | tree rules |
| 4 | **undo** | may · passive | new facts | that |  |  |  |  | vn destroy-44 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent subject=Patient |

<!-- .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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Tweety is a bird, so Tweety flies» is a defeasible conclusion.

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:defeasible:x1:1
# text = «Tweety is a bird, so Tweety flies» is a defeasible conclusion.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Tweety	Tweety	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
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	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	so	so	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
8	Tweety	Tweety	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	flies	fly	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	_
11	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	cop	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	defeasible	defeasible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	conclusion	conclusion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	14	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** *in a quote* | present | Tweety | a bird |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | present | a bird | a defeasible conclusion |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The judge said the agreement was defeasible.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:defeasible:x2:1
# text = The judge said the agreement was defeasible.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	judge	judge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	said	say	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	agreement	agreement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	defeasible	defeasible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | the judge |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | past | the agreement |  |  |  |  | defeasible *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Most everyday reasoning is defeasible: new facts can change our minds.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:defeasible:x3:1
# text = Most everyday reasoning is defeasible: new facts can change our minds.
1	Most	most	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	3	amod	_	_
2	everyday	everyday	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	reasoning	reasoning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	defeasible	defeasible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
7	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	facts	fact	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	_
9	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	change	change	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
11	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	minds	mind	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Most everyday reasoning |  |  |  |  | defeasible *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **change** | can | new facts | our minds |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent mind=Patient |
| 3 | **mind** |  | our |  |  |  |  |  | nom mind «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The family's right to the land was defeasible if they stopped farming it.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:defeasible:x4:1
# text = The family's right to the land was defeasible if they stopped farming it.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	right	right	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	land	land	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
8	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	defeasible	defeasible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
10	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
11	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
12	stopped	stop	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	advcl	_	_
13	farming	farm	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	12	xcomp	_	_
14	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the family's right to the land |  |  |  |  | defeasible *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **stop** *a condition, not said to happen* | past | they |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Affector clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **farm** | gerund | they *not said here* | right |  |  |  |  | vn rear-26.2.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A scientist's theory is defeasible if a better experiment shows it wrong.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:defeasible:x5:1
# text = A scientist's theory is defeasible if a better experiment shows it wrong.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	scientist	scientist	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	theory	theory	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	defeasible	defeasible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
7	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	better	good	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	10	amod	_	_
10	experiment	experiment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
11	shows	show	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	advcl	_	_
12	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	obj	_	_
13	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a scientist's theory |  |  |  |  | defeasible *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **show** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | a better experiment | theory |  |  |  | wrong *property* | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent it=Recipient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The rule is defeasible: there are exceptions.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:defeasible:x6:1
# text = The rule is defeasible: there are exceptions.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	rule	rule	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	defeasible	defeasible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
6	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	7	expl	_	_
7	are	be	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	parataxis	_	_
8	exceptions	exception	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the rule |  |  |  |  | defeasible *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **does** | present | exceptions |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=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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