---
title: discretion — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «discretion» in the school dictionary: Discretion is being careful not to tell secrets or upset people. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# discretion

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Discretion, Viewer discretion, things, you, Homework extensions, doctor · **What happens:** be, not tell, decide, do, mean, take · **To what, where:** secrets, freedom, care, you, good judgement, discretion · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«discretion» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings 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: [discretion in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/discretion.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Discretion is being careful not to tell secrets or upset people.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:discretion:m1:1
# text = Discretion is being careful not to tell secrets or upset people.
1	Discretion	discretion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	cop	_	_
4	careful	careful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	tell	tell	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
8	secrets	secret	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
10	upset	upset	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Discretion |  |  |  |  | careful *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **tell** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive | Discretion *not said here* | secrets or upset people |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent secret=Recipient |

<!-- .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 -->
Discretion is the freedom to decide what to do: at the teacher's discretion.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:discretion:m2:1
# text = Discretion is the freedom to decide what to do: at the teacher's discretion.
1	Discretion	discretion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	freedom	freedom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	decide	decide	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	acl	_	_
7	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	9	obj	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	15	punct	_	_
11	at	at	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	's	's	PART	POS	_	13	case	_	_
15	discretion	discretion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Discretion | the freedom and the teacher's discretion |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **decide** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V what S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **do** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent what=Eventuality |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Viewer discretion means take care, some things may upset you.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:discretion:m3:1
# text = Viewer discretion means take care, some things may upset you.
1	Viewer	viewer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	discretion	discretion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	take	take	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	ccomp	_	_
5	care	care	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
7	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	8	det	_	_
8	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	_
9	may	may	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	upset	upset	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
11	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Viewer discretion |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **take** | infinitive |  | care |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent care=Theme |
| 3 | **upset** | may | some things | you |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus you=Experiencer |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Discretion can also mean good judgement, being sensible and wise about what to do.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:discretion:m4:1
# text = Discretion can also mean good judgement, being sensible and wise about what to do.
1	Discretion	discretion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	also	also	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	judgement	judgement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	9	cop	_	_
9	sensible	sensible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	parataxis	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	wise	wise	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	conj	_	_
12	about	about	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
13	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	15	obj	_	_
14	to	to	PART	TO	_	15	mark	_	_
15	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can | Discretion | good judgement |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent judgement=Topic |
| 2 | **is** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | sensible *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **be** |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **do** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent what=Eventuality |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Please use discretion with this secret.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:discretion:x1:1
# text = Please use discretion with this secret.
1	Please	please	INTJ	UH	_	2	discourse	_	_
2	use	use	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	discretion	discretion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	6	det	_	_
6	secret	secret	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | imperative | you *not said here* | discretion |  |  |  | with this secret | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent discretion=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Homework extensions are at the teacher's discretion.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:discretion:x2:1
# text = Homework extensions are at the teacher's discretion.
1	Homework	homework	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	extensions	extension	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	's	's	PART	POS	_	6	case	_	_
8	discretion	discretion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Homework extensions |  |  | the teacher's discretion |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The nurse acted with discretion.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:discretion:x3:1
# text = The nurse acted with discretion.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	nurse	nurse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	acted	act	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	discretion	discretion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **act** | participle |  | the nurse *not said here* |  |  |  | with discretion | vn act-114-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Viewer discretion is advised.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:discretion:x4:1
# text = Viewer discretion is advised.
1	Viewer	viewer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	discretion	discretion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	advised	advise	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **advise** *speech: other* | present · passive |  | Viewer discretion |  |  |  |  | vn advise-37.9-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: subject=Recipient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Leave the tip to your discretion.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:discretion:x5:1
# text = Leave the tip to your discretion.
1	Leave	leave	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	tip	tip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	discretion	discretion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **leave** | imperative | you *not said here* | the tip | your discretion |  |  |  | vn fulfilling-13.4.1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent tip=Theme to discretion=Recipient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The doctor treated the family's news with discretion.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:discretion:x6:1
# text = The doctor treated the family's news with discretion.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	doctor	doctor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	treated	treat	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	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	's	's	PART	POS	_	5	case	_	_
7	news	news	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	discretion	discretion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **treat** | past | the doctor | the family's news |  |  |  | with discretion | vn equip-13.4.2-1 «NP V NP-Fulfilling PP»: agent=Agent news=Recipient with discretion=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
You have genius, but no discretion.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:discretion:x7:1
# text = You have genius, but no discretion.
1	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	genius	genius	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
5	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
6	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	7	det	_	_
7	discretion	discretion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

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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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