---
title: enact — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «enact» in the school dictionary: To enact a law means to make it officially into law. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# enact

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Parliament, class, We, he, his · **What happens:** enact, mean, make, act out, perform, carry out · **To what, where:** law, story, scene, something, plan, new law · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To enact a law means to make it officially into law.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:enact:m1:1
# text = To enact a law means to make it officially into law.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	enact	enact	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	law	law	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	officially	officially	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
10	into	into	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	law	law	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **enact** | to-infinitive |  | a law |  |  |  |  | vn performance-26.7 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent law=Theme |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **make** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | law |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset it=Product |

<!-- .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 -->
To enact a story or scene means to act it out or perform it.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:enact:m2:1
# text = To enact a story or scene means to act it out or perform it.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	enact	enact	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	csubj	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	scene	scene	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
7	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	act	act	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	_
11	out	out	ADP	RP	_	9	compound:prt	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	perform	perform	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	conj	_	_
14	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **enact** | to-infinitive |  | a story or scene |  |  |  |  | vn performance-26.7 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent story=Theme |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **act out** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | scene |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1-1 «NP V PP.predicate»: agent=Agent it=Eventuality |
| 4 | **perform** | infinitive |  | scene |  |  |  |  | vn performance-26.7 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To enact something can also mean to carry out a plan.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:enact:m3:1
# text = To enact something can also mean to carry out a plan.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	enact	enact	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	csubj	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
5	also	also	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	carry	carry	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
9	out	out	ADP	RP	_	8	compound:prt	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	plan	plan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **enact** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn performance-26.7 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Theme |
| 2 | **mean** | can |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **carry out** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | a plan |  |  |  |  | vn act-114 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent plan=Eventuality |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Parliament enacted a new law about plastic bags.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:enact:x1:1
# text = Parliament enacted a new law about plastic bags.
1	Parliament	Parliament	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	enacted	enact	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	law	law	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	about	about	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	plastic	plastic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	bags	bag	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **enact** | past | Parliament | a new law |  |  |  | about plastic bags | vn performance-26.7 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent law=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The class enacted the story of the Gunpowder Plot.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:enact:x2:1
# text = The class enacted the story of the Gunpowder Plot.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	enacted	enact	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	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	Gunpowder	Gunpowder	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	Plot	Plot	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **enact** | past | the class | the story of the Gunpowder Plot |  |  |  |  | vn performance-26.7 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent story=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The plan was enacted after months of talks.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:enact:x3:1
# text = The plan was enacted after months of talks.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	plan	plan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	enacted	enact	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	after	after	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	months	month	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	talks	talk	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **enact** | past · passive |  | the plan |  |  | month |  | vn performance-26.7 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We enacted the story of Robin Hood in drama.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:enact:x4:1
# text = We enacted the story of Robin Hood in drama.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	enacted	enact	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	Robin	Robin	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	Hood	Hood	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	drama	drama	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **enact** | past | We | the story of Robin Hood |  | drama |  |  | vn performance-26.7 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent story=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The law was enacted last year.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:enact:x5:1
# text = The law was enacted last year.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	law	law	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	enacted	enact	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	last	last	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	year	year	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **enact** | past · passive |  | the law |  |  | year |  | vn performance-26.7 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Then having given the necessary instructions to the redskins he returned to the home, where an unworthy scene had been enacted in his absence.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:enact:x6:1
# text = Then having given the necessary instructions to the redskins he returned to the home, where an unworthy scene had been enacted in his absence.
1	Then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	3	advmod	_	_
2	having	have	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	aux	_	_
3	given	give	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	necessary	necessary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	instructions	instruction	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	redskins	redskin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
10	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
11	returned	return	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
12	to	to	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	home	home	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
16	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	22	advmod	_	_
17	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
18	unworthy	unworthy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	scene	scene	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	nsubj:pass	_	_
20	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	22	aux	_	_
21	been	be	AUX	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	22	aux:pass	_	_
22	enacted	enact	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	14	acl:relcl	_	_
23	in	in	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
24	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	25	nmod:poss	_	_
25	absence	absence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | gerund · perfect |  | the necessary instructions | the redskins |  | then |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent instruction=Theme to redskin=Recipient |
| 2 | **return** | past | he |  |  |  |  | to the home *result* | vn convert-26.6.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Patient to home=Result |
| 3 | **enact** | past · perfect · passive |  | a unworthy scene |  | his absence |  |  | vn performance-26.7 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |
| 4 | **absent** |  | his *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom absence «state transitive»: poss=agent |

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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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