---
title: definitive — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «definitive» in the school dictionary: Final and settled, so that nobody can argue with or change it: «a definitive answer». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# definitive

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** nobody, Definitive stamps, We, universe, This, test · **What happens:** settle, argue, change, trust, run, be · **To what, where:** it, ordinary running stamps, definitive answer, definitive guide, definitive proof, definitive list · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Final and settled, so that nobody can argue with or change it: «a definitive answer».

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:definitive:m1:1
# text = Final and settled, so that nobody can argue with or change it: «a definitive answer».
1	Final	final	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	reparandum	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	settled	settle	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
5	so	so	SCONJ	IN	ExtPos=SCONJ	9	mark	_	_
6	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	5	fixed	_	_
7	nobody	nobody	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	9	nsubj	_	_
8	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	argue	argue	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	parataxis	_	_
10	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	obl	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	change	change	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	conj	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	3	punct	_	_
15	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
17	definitive	definitive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **settle** | past |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **argue** *speech: disagree* | can | nobody |  |  |  |  |  | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **change** | infinitive | nobody *not said here* | it |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=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.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The best, most complete or most trusted version of something: «the definitive guide to sharks».

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:definitive:m2:1
# text = The best, most complete or most trusted version of something: «the definitive guide to sharks».
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	best	good	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
4	most	most	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	9	amod	_	_
5	complete	complete	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
7	most	most	ADV	RBS	Degree=Sup	8	advmod	_	_
8	trusted	trust	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	amod	_	_
9	version	version	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	16	punct	_	_
13	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	definitive	definitive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	guide	guide	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	appos	_	_
17	to	to	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
18	sharks	shark	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **trust** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Definitive stamps are the ordinary, long-running stamps, not special issues.

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:definitive:m3:1
# text = Definitive stamps are the ordinary, long-running stamps, not special issues.
1	Definitive	definitive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	stamps	stamp	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
5	ordinary	ordinary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	running	run	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	amod	_	_
10	stamps	stamp	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
12	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	14	advmod	_	_
13	special	special	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	issues	issue	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **run** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is a** | present | Definitive stamps | the ordinary running stamps and special issues |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We still have no definitive answer to how big the universe is.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:definitive:x1:1
# text = We still have no definitive answer to how big the universe is.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	still	still	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	6	det	_	_
5	definitive	definitive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	9	advmod	_	_
9	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	nmod	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	universe	universe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
12	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | We | no definitive answer |  |  | still |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent answer=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | present | the universe |  |  |  |  | big *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
This is the definitive guide to British birds.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:definitive:x2:1
# text = This is the definitive guide to British birds.
1	This	this	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	definitive	definitive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	guide	guide	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	British	British	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	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 | This | the definitive guide |  |  |  | to British birds | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The test gave definitive proof that the water was safe.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:definitive:x3:1
# text = The test gave definitive proof that the water was safe.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	test	test	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	definitive	definitive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	proof	proof	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
9	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	safe	safe	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | the test | definitive proof |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent proof=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | past | the water |  |  |  |  | safe *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum's answer was a definitive «No».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:definitive:x4:1
# text = Mum's answer was a definitive «No».
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	's	PART	POS	_	1	case	_	_
3	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	definitive	definitive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
7	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	No	no	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Neg	6	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | Mum's answer |  |  |  |  | definitive *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **answer** |  | Mum |  |  |  |  |  | nom answer «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Is this the definitive list of winners?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:definitive:x5:1
# text = Is this the definitive list of winners?
1	Is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
2	this	this	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	5	nsubj	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	definitive	definitive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	list	list	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	winners	winner	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | this | the definitive list |  |  |  | of winners | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The scientists said the result was exciting but not definitive.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:definitive:x6:1
# text = The scientists said the result was exciting but not definitive.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	scientists	scientist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	said	say	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	result	result	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	exciting	exciting	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	ccomp	_	_
8	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
10	definitive	definitive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | the scientists |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | past | the result |  |  |  |  | exciting *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **not** **be** |  | the result *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- 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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