---
title: lectern — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «lectern» in the school dictionary: A lectern is a tall stand with a sloping top on which a speaker puts notes or a book while standing up to read or speak. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# lectern

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** lectern, speaker, reader, Bible, head teacher, I · **What happens:** be, slope, put, stand up, read, speak · **To what, where:** tall stand, notes, sloping top, big Bible, church, reader · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A lectern is a tall stand with a sloping top on which a speaker puts notes or a book while standing up to read or speak.

<!-- fold The tree, 26 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lectern:m1:1
# text = A lectern is a tall stand with a sloping top on which a speaker puts notes or a book while standing up to read or speak.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	lectern	lectern	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	tall	tall	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	stand	stand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	sloping	slope	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	10	amod	_	_
10	top	top	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
11	on	on	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	15	obl	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	speaker	speaker	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nsubj	_	_
15	puts	put	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	acl:relcl	_	_
16	notes	note	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	obj	_	_
17	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	conj	_	_
20	while	while	SCONJ	IN	_	21	mark	_	_
21	standing	stand	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	15	advcl	_	_
22	up	up	ADP	RP	_	21	compound:prt	_	_
23	to	to	PART	TO	_	24	mark	_	_
24	read	read	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	21	advcl	_	_
25	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	26	cc	_	_
26	speak	speak	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	24	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a lectern | a tall stand |  |  |  | with a sloping top | tree rules |
| 2 | **slope** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **put** | present | a speaker | notes or a book |  | a sloping top |  |  | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V PP.destination NP»: agent=Agent note=Theme on which=Destination |
| 4 | **stand up** | gerund | a speaker *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 5 | **read** | to-infinitive | a speaker *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 6 | **speak** *speech: other* | infinitive | a speaker *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn talk-37.5 «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: church — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In a church a lectern holds the big Bible, and a reader reads the Bible passages from it.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lectern:m2:1
# text = In a church a lectern holds the big Bible, and a reader reads the Bible passages from it.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	church	church	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	lectern	lectern	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	holds	hold	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	Bible	Bible	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	reader	reader	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	_
14	reads	read	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	Bible	Bible	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	17	nsubj	_	_
17	passages	passage	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	ccomp	_	_
18	from	from	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hold** | present | a lectern | the big Bible |  | a church |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent bible=Theme in church=Location |
| 2 | **read** | present | a reader |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **passage** | present | the Bible |  |  | reader |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The head teacher stood at the lectern to give out the prizes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lectern:x1:1
# text = The head teacher stood at the lectern to give out the prizes.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	stood	stand	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	lectern	lectern	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	give	give	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
10	out	out	ADP	RP	_	9	compound:prt	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	prizes	prize	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stand** | past | the head teacher |  |  | the lectern |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent at lectern=Location |
| 2 | **give out** | to-infinitive | the head teacher *not said here* | the prizes |  |  |  |  | vn contribute-13.2 «NP V NP.theme (PP)»: agent=Agent prize=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I put my speech on the lectern and took a deep breath.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lectern:x2:1
# text = I put my speech on the lectern and took a deep breath.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	put	put	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	speech	speech	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	lectern	lectern	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	deep	deep	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	breath	breath	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **put** | past | I | my speech |  | the lectern |  |  | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V PP.destination NP»: agent=Agent speech=Theme on lectern=Destination |
| 2 | **take** | past | I *not said here* | a deep breath |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent breath=Theme |
| 3 | **speak** |  | my |  |  |  |  |  | nom speech «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In our church the lectern is a brass eagle holding the Bible on its wings.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lectern:x3:1
# text = In our church the lectern is a brass eagle holding the Bible on its wings.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	church	church	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	lectern	lectern	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	brass	brass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	eagle	eagle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
10	holding	hold	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	9	acl	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	Bible	Bible	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
13	on	on	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	15	nmod:poss	_	_
15	wings	wing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the lectern | a brass eagle |  | our church |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **hold** | gerund | a brass eagle *not said here* | the Bible |  | lectern's wings |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent bible=Theme on wing=Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My sister read the first reading from the lectern on Sunday.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lectern:x4:1
# text = My sister read the first reading from the lectern on Sunday.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	sister	sister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	read	read	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	6	amod	_	_
6	reading	reading	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	from	from	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	lectern	lectern	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
10	on	on	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	Sunday	Sunday	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **read** | past | My sister | the first reading |  | the lectern on Sunday |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent reading=Topic from lectern=Source |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The professor leaned on the lectern while he talked.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lectern:x5:1
# text = The professor leaned on the lectern while he talked.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	professor	professor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	leaned	lean	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	lectern	lectern	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	while	while	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
8	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	talked	talk	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lean** | participle |  | the professor *not said here* |  | the lectern |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent on lectern=Location |
| 2 | **talk** | past | professor |  |  |  |  |  | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The president walked up to the lectern with a microphone on it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lectern:x6:1
# text = The president walked up to the lectern with a microphone on it.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	president	president	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	walked	walk	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	up	up	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	lectern	lectern	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	microphone	microphone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
11	on	on	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **walk up** | past | the president |  |  |  |  | to the lectern with a microphone on microphone *result* | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.result»: agent=Theme to lectern=Result |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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