---
title: gavel — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «gavel» in the school dictionary: A small wooden hammer that a judge, auctioneer or chairperson bangs to get attention, keep order or show that something is decided or sold. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# gavel

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** that, judge, auctioneer, class president, gavel, Tom · **What happens:** judge, get, keep, show, decide, sell · **To what, where:** attention, order, something, gavel, court, lady · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A small wooden hammer that a judge, auctioneer or chairperson bangs to get attention, keep order or show that something is decided or sold.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gavel:m1:1
# text = A small wooden hammer that a judge, auctioneer or chairperson bangs to get attention, keep order or show that something is decided or sold.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	wooden	wooden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	hammer	hammer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	judge	judge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	auctioneer	auctioneer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	chairperson	chairperson	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	bangs	bang	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	conj	_	_
13	to	to	PART	TO	_	14	mark	_	_
14	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	acl	_	_
15	attention	attention	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
17	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	conj	_	_
18	order	order	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obj	_	_
19	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
20	show	show	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	17	conj	_	_
21	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	24	mark	_	_
22	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	24	nsubj	_	_
23	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	24	aux:pass	_	_
24	decided	decide	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	20	ccomp	_	_
25	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	26	cc	_	_
26	sold	sell	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	24	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **judge** |  | that |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **get** | to-infinitive | that *not said here* | attention |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer attention=Stimulus |
| 3 | **keep** | infinitive | that *not said here* | order |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent order=Theme |
| 4 | **show** | infinitive | that *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 5 | **decide** | present · passive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V S»: subject=Topic |
| 6 | **sell** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V PP.recipient»: 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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The judge banged the gavel and shouted, «Order in court!»

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gavel:x1:1
# text = The judge banged the gavel and shouted, «Order in court!»
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	judge	judge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	banged	bang	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	gavel	gavel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	shouted	shout	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	Order	order	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	court	court	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **bang** | past | the judge | the gavel |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location gavel=Theme |
| 2 | **shout** *speech: express* | past | the judge *not said here* | Order |  | court |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent order=Topic |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The auctioneer struck the gavel: «Sold to the lady in red!»

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gavel:x2:1
# text = The auctioneer struck the gavel: «Sold to the lady in red!»
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	auctioneer	auctioneer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	struck	strike	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	gavel	gavel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
7	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	Sold	sell	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	parataxis	_	_
9	to	to	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	lady	lady	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	red	red	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **strike** | past | the auctioneer | the gavel |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **sell** *in a quote* | participle |  |  | the lady | red |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V PP.recipient»: agent=Agent to lady=Recipient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our class president used a gavel to start the meeting.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gavel:x3:1
# text = Our class president used a gavel to start the meeting.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	president	president	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	used	use	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	gavel	gavel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	start	start	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	meeting	meeting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past | Our class president | a gavel |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent gavel=Patient |
| 2 | **start** | to-infinitive | Our class president *not said here* | the meeting |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent meeting=Eventuality |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The gavel came down and the painting was sold.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gavel:x4:1
# text = The gavel came down and the painting was sold.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	gavel	gavel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	down	down	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	painting	painting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj:pass	_	_
8	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux:pass	_	_
9	sold	sell	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come down** | past | the gavel |  |  |  |  | down *property* | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **sell** | past · passive |  | the painting |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the school mock trial, Tom held the gavel.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gavel:x5:1
# text = In the school mock trial, Tom held the gavel.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
3	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	mock	mock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	trial	trial	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	Tom	Tom	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	held	hold	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	gavel	gavel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hold** | past | Tom | the gavel |  | the mock trial |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent gavel=Theme in trial=Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The chairwoman tapped her gavel for silence.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gavel:x6:1
# text = The chairwoman tapped her gavel for silence.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	chairwoman	chairwoman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	tapped	tap	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	gavel	gavel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	silence	silence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tap** | past | the chairwoman | chairwoman's gavel |  |  |  | for silence | vn investigate-35.4 «NP V NP.location PP.theme»: agent=Agent gavel=Location for silence=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.

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