---
title: esq — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «esq» in the school dictionary: Short for «Esquire»: a polite title written after a man's name, mostly in letters, in old-fashioned British style: «John Smith, Esq.». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# esq

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** man, Mr Toad, you, Esq, person, esquire · **What happens:** write, name, use, address, be, not use · **To what, where:** polite title, lawyer, letter, both, James, style letter · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Short for «Esquire»: a polite title written after a man's name, mostly in letters, in old-fashioned British style: «John Smith, Esq.».

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:esq:m1:1
# text = Short for «Esquire»: a polite title written after a man's name, mostly in letters, in old-fashioned British style: «John Smith, Esq.».
1	Short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
2	for	for	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	Esquire	esquire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	polite	polite	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	title	title	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	appos	_	_
10	written	write	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	acl	_	_
11	after	after	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	's	's	PART	POS	_	13	case	_	_
15	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
17	mostly	mostly	ADV	RB	_	19	advmod	_	_
18	in	in	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	letters	letter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	26	punct	_	_
21	in	in	ADP	IN	_	26	case	_	_
22	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	24	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	22	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	fashioned	fashioned	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	26	amod	_	_
25	British	British	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	26	amod	_	_
26	style	style	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	29	punct	_	_
28	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	29	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	John	John	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	26	appos	_	_
30	Smith	Smith	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	29	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	32	punct	_	_
32	Esq	Esq	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	29	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
33	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	29	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
34	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
35	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | participle |  | a polite title and letters *not said here* |  |  | after a man's name |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **name** |  | a man |  |  |  |  |  | nom name «communication transitive»: poss=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: USA — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Used after the name of a lawyer (man or woman).

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:esq:m2:1
# text = Used after the name of a lawyer (man or woman).
1	Used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
2	after	after	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	lawyer	lawyer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
8	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	appos	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	woman	woman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | participle |  |  |  |  | after the name of a lawyer |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **name** |  |  | a lawyer |  |  |  |  | nom name «communication transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The letter was addressed to «Mr Toad, Esq.» – which is wrong, because you don't use both!

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:esq:x1:1
# text = The letter was addressed to «Mr Toad, Esq.» – which is wrong, because you don't use both!
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	letter	letter	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	addressed	address	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
6	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	Mr	Mr	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	Toad	Toad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	obl:agent	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	Esq	Esq	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	_
13	–	-	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
14	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	16	nsubj	_	_
15	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	cop	_	_
16	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
18	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	22	mark	_	_
19	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	22	nsubj	_	_
20	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	22	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	22	advmod	_	_
22	use	use	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	conj	_	_
23	both	both	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	22	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **address** | past · passive | Mr Toad and Esq | the letter |  |  |  |  | vn illustrate-25.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent subject=Destination |
| 2 | **is** | present | Mr Toad and Esq |  |  |  |  | wrong *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **not** **use** | present · do-support | you | both |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent both=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Write «James Brown, Esq.» on an old-style letter.

<!-- fold The tree, 9 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:esq:x2:1
# text = Write «James Brown, Esq.» on an old-style letter.
1	Write	write	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	James	James	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	Brown	Brown	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	Esq	Esq	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	1	punct	_	_
9	on	on	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
10	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
11	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	style	style	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	compound	_	_
14	letter	letter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | imperative | you *not said here* | James and Esq |  | a style letter |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent james=Theme on letter=Destination |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the USA, «Esq.» after a name often means the person is a lawyer.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:esq:x3:1
# text = In the USA, «Esq.» after a name often means the person is a lawyer.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	USA	USA	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
5	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	Esq	esq	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
9	after	after	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
12	often	often	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
13	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	nsubj	_	_
16	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	18	cop	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	lawyer	lawyer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	13	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Esq after a name |  |  |  |  | in the USA; often *property* | vn representation-110.1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Pivot in usa=Attribute |
| 2 | **is a** | present | the person | a lawyer |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An esquire once carried a knight's shield.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:esq:x4:1
# text = An esquire once carried a knight's shield.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	esquire	esquire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	once	once	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	4	advmod	_	_
4	carried	carry	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	knight	knight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	's	's	PART	POS	_	6	case	_	_
8	shield	shield	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **carry** | past | a esquire | a knight's shield |  |  |  | once *property* | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent shield=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The invitation said «Henry Wood, Esq.»

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:esq:x5:1
# text = The invitation said «Henry Wood, Esq.»
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	invitation	invitation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	Henry	Henry	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	Wood	Wood	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	Esq	esq	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | the invitation |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Old envelopes often show «Esq.» after a man's name.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:esq:x6:1
# text = Old envelopes often show «Esq.» after a man's name.
1	Old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	envelopes	envelope	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	often	often	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	show	show	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	Esq	esq	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
9	after	after	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	's	's	PART	POS	_	11	case	_	_
13	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | present | Old envelopes | Esq |  |  | after a man's name | often *property* | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent esq=Recipient |
| 2 | **name** |  | a man |  |  |  |  |  | nom name «communication transitive»: poss=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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