---
title: desist — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «desist» in the school dictionary: To stop doing something, especially when told to: «desist from doing it». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# desist

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** judge, formal, company, letter, guard, formal Pupils · **What happens:** stop, do, tell, desist, shout, run · **To what, where:** something, it, him, corridors, letter, boys · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To stop doing something, especially when told to: «desist from doing it».

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:desist:m1:1
# text = To stop doing something, especially when told to: «desist from doing it».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	stop	stop	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	doing	do	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
7	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	8	advmod	_	_
8	told	tell	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl:relcl	_	_
9	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
11	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	desist	desist	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
13	from	from	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
14	doing	do	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	12	advcl	_	_
15	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Affector clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **do** | gerund |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |
| 3 | **tell** *speech: assert* | participle |  |  |  |  |  | especially *property* | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **desist** *in a quote* | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn refrain-69 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 5 | **do** *in a quote* | gerund |  | it |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Eventuality |

<!-- .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 -->
The judge told him to desist from shouting.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:desist:x1:1
# text = The judge told him to desist from shouting.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	judge	judge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	told	tell	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	iobj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	desist	desist	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
7	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	shouting	shout	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | past | the judge |  | him *= he* |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent he=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 2 | **desist** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | the judge *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn refrain-69 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **shout** *speech: express* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
(formal) Please desist from running in the corridors.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:desist:x2:1
# text = (formal) Please desist from running in the corridors.
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	formal	formal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
4	Please	please	INTJ	UH	_	5	discourse	_	_
5	desist	desist	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	from	from	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	running	run	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	advcl	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	corridors	corridor	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **desist** | infinitive | formal |  |  |  |  |  | vn refrain-69 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **run** | gerund | formal *not said here* |  |  | the corridors |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in corridor=Trajectory |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The company received a letter telling it to cease and desist.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:desist:x3:1
# text = The company received a letter telling it to cease and desist.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	company	company	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	received	receive	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	letter	letter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	telling	tell	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	acl	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	cease	cease	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	desist	desist	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **receive** | past | the company | a letter |  |  |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent letter=Theme |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* | gerund | a letter *not said here* |  | letter |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent it=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 3 | **cease** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | a letter *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |
| 4 | **desist** | infinitive | a letter *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn refrain-69 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The guard ordered the boys to desist at once.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:desist:x4:1
# text = The guard ordered the boys to desist at once.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	guard	guard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	ordered	order	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	boys	boy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	desist	desist	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
8	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	once	once	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **order** | past | the guard |  | the boys |  |  |  | vn order-58.3-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent boy=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 2 | **desist** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | the guard *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn refrain-69 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
(formal) Pupils must desist from talking once the exam begins.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:desist:x5:1
# text = (formal) Pupils must desist from talking once the exam begins.
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	formal	formal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
4	Pupils	pupil	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
5	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	desist	desist	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	from	from	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
8	talking	talk	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	advcl	_	_
9	once	once	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	exam	exam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
12	begins	begin	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **desist** | must | formal Pupils |  |  |  |  |  | vn refrain-69 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **talk** | gerund | formal Pupils *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **begin** | present | the exam |  |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The rain finally desisted in the evening.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:desist:x6:1
# text = The rain finally desisted in the evening.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	finally	finally	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	desisted	deceased	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	evening	evening	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Grasshopper refused to desist, and chirped louder and louder the more the Owl entreated.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:desist:x7:1
# text = The Grasshopper refused to desist, and chirped louder and louder the more the Owl entreated.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Grasshopper	Grasshopper	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	refused	refuse	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	desist	desist	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	chirped	chirp	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
9	louder	loud	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	8	xcomp	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	louder	loud	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	9	conj	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	more	more	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	16	advmod	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	Owl	Owl	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	16	nsubj	_	_
16	entreated	entreat	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **refuse** | past | the Grasshopper |  |  |  |  |  | vn reject-77.2 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **not** **desist** | to-infinitive | the Grasshopper *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn refrain-69 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **chirp** | past | the Grasshopper *not said here* |  |  |  |  | loud *property* | vn animal\_sounds-38 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **entreat** | past | the Owl |  |  |  |  |  | vn urge-58.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=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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