---
title: dictator — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «dictator» in the school dictionary: A ruler who has complete power over a country, was usually not fairly elected, and does not allow people to disagree. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# dictator

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** ruler, Someone, dictator, newspapers, people, brother · **What happens:** have, not elect, not allow, disagree, tell, do · **To what, where:** complete power, country, ruler, people, others, newspapers · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A ruler who has complete power over a country, was usually not fairly elected, and does not allow people to disagree.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dictator:m1:1
# text = A ruler who has complete power over a country, was usually not fairly elected, and does not allow people to disagree.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	ruler	ruler	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nsubj	_	_
3	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	4	nsubj	_	_
4	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	_
5	complete	complete	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	power	power	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	over	over	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	country	country	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
11	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	15	aux:pass	_	_
12	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
13	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	15	advmod	_	_
14	fairly	fairly	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
15	elected	elect	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
17	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
18	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	20	aux	_	_
19	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	20	advmod	_	_
20	allow	allow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	conj	_	_
21	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	obj	_	_
22	to	to	PART	TO	_	23	mark	_	_
23	disagree	disagree	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	21	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	15	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | a ruler | complete power |  | a country |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent power=Patient |
| 2 | **not** **elect** | past · passive |  | a ruler |  |  |  | fairly, usually *property* | vn appoint-29.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |
| 3 | **not** **allow** | present · do-support |  |  | people |  |  |  | vn allow-64.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent people=Beneficiary |
| 4 | **disagree** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn correspond-36.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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: informal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Someone who tells others what to do and won't listen.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dictator:m2:1
# text = Someone who tells others what to do and won't listen.
1	Someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	nsubj	_	_
2	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	3	nsubj	_	_
3	tells	tell	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	7	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	ccomp	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
9	wo	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
11	listen	listen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | present | Someone | others |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent other=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 2 | **do** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent what=Eventuality |
| 3 | **not** **listen** | future | Someone *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The dictator banned all newspapers that criticised him.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dictator:x1:1
# text = The dictator banned all newspapers that criticised him.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dictator	dictator	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	banned	ban	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	5	det	_	_
5	newspapers	newspaper	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	criticised	criticise	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ban** | past | the dictator | all newspapers |  |  |  |  | vn forbid-64.4-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Causer newspaper=Theme |
| 2 | **criticise** | past | all newspapers | dictator |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In a democracy, people choose their leaders; a dictator does not let them.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dictator:x2:1
# text = In a democracy, people choose their leaders; a dictator does not let them.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	democracy	democracy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
6	choose	choose	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	leaders	leader	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	dictator	dictator	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	_
12	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	aux	_	_
13	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	14	advmod	_	_
14	let	let	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	conj	_	_
15	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **choose** | present | people | people's leaders |  | a democracy |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent leader=Theme |
| 2 | **not** **let** | present · do-support | a dictator | leaders *= leader* |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent they=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The people finally overthrew the dictator.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dictator:x3:1
# text = The people finally overthrew the dictator.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	finally	finally	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	overthrew	overthrow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	dictator	dictator	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **overthrow** | past | the people | the dictator |  |  |  | finally *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My brother acts like a dictator when he holds the TV remote.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dictator:x4:1
# text = My brother acts like a dictator when he holds the TV remote.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	acts	act	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	like	like	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	dictator	dictator	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	9	advmod	_	_
8	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	holds	hold	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	TV	TV	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	remote	remote	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **act** | present | My brother |  |  |  |  | like a dictator | vn masquerade-29.6-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Agent like dictator=Attribute |
| 2 | **hold** | present | brother | the TV remote |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent remote=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
History has many cruel dictators.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dictator:x5:1
# text = History has many cruel dictators.
1	History	history	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
4	cruel	cruel	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	dictators	dictator	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | History | many cruel dictators |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent dictator=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A dictator often controls the army and the police.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dictator:x6:1
# text = A dictator often controls the army and the police.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dictator	dictator	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	often	often	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	controls	control	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	army	army	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	police	police	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **control** | present | a dictator | the army and the police |  |  |  | often *property* | vn enforce-63 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent army=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.

<!-- /div -->

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