---
title: maxim — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «maxim» in the school dictionary: A maxim is a short, wise saying that gives a rule about how to behave or live. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# maxim

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** maxim, short wise saying, favourite maxim, you, dad, We · **What happens:** be, give, behave, live, not be, not want · **To what, where:** short wise saying, rule, Waste, others, famous maxim, own maxims · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A maxim is a short, wise saying that gives a rule about how to behave or live.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maxim:m1:1
# text = A maxim is a short, wise saying that gives a rule about how to behave or live.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	maxim	maxim	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
5	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	wise	wise	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	saying	saying	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj	_	_
10	gives	give	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	rule	rule	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
13	about	about	SCONJ	IN	_	16	mark	_	_
14	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	16	advmod	_	_
15	to	to	PART	TO	_	16	mark	_	_
16	behave	behave	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	acl	_	_
17	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	live	live	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	16	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a maxim | a short wise saying |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **give** | present | a short wise saying | a rule |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent rule=Theme |
| 3 | **behave** | to-infinitive | a short wise saying *not said here* | a rule *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn masquerade-29.6-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **live** | infinitive | a short wise saying *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- .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 -->
Grandma's favourite maxim is «Waste not, want not».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maxim:x1:1
# text = Grandma's favourite maxim is «Waste not, want not».
1	Grandma	grandma	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	's	PART	POS	_	1	case	_	_
3	favourite	favourite	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	maxim	maxim	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	Waste	waste	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	want	want	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	7	parataxis	_	_
11	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is a** *in a quote* | present | Grandma's favourite maxim | Waste |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **want** *in a quote* | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Treat others as you would like to be treated» is a famous maxim.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maxim:x2:1
# text = «Treat others as you would like to be treated» is a famous maxim.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Treat	treat	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	csubj	_	_
3	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
6	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	like	like	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
9	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	aux:pass	_	_
10	treated	treat	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
12	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	cop	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	famous	famous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	maxim	maxim	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	15	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **treat** *in a quote* | infinitive |  | others |  |  |  |  | vn equip-13.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent other=Recipient |
| 2 | **like** *in a quote* | would | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 3 | **treat** *not said to happen, in a quote* | to-infinitive · passive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn equip-13.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient» |
| 4 | **is a** | present |  | a famous maxim |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My dad lives by the maxim «Better safe than sorry».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maxim:x3:1
# text = My dad lives by the maxim «Better safe than sorry».
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	lives	live	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	by	by	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	maxim	maxim	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	Better	good	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	9	amod	_	_
9	safe	safe	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	parataxis	_	_
10	than	than	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	sorry	sorry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** | present | My dad |  |  |  |  | by the maxim | vn exist-47.1-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme by maxim=Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We wrote our own maxims for the classroom wall.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maxim:x4:1
# text = We wrote our own maxims for the classroom wall.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	wrote	write	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
4	own	own	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	maxims	maxim	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	classroom	classroom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	wall	wall	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 | **write** | past | We | our own maxims |  |  |  | for the classroom wall | vn create-26.4-1 «NP V NP PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent maxim=Result for wall=Beneficiary |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The old maxim says «Practice makes perfect».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maxim:x5:1
# text = The old maxim says «Practice makes perfect».
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	maxim	maxim	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	Practice	practice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	ccomp	_	_
8	perfect	perfect	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | the old maxim |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **make** *in a quote* | present | Practice |  |  |  |  | perfect *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Each chapter begins with a maxim.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maxim:x6:1
# text = Each chapter begins with a maxim.
1	Each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	2	det	_	_
2	chapter	chapter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	begins	begin	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	maxim	maxim	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **begin** | present | each chapter |  |  |  |  | with a maxim | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V PP.subeventuality»: agent=Eventuality with maxim=Subeventuality |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Yes, there was written long ago the good old maxim: 'Think on the great moving-day of death!' That is a serious thought.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Yes, there was written long ago the good old maxim: 'Think on the great moving-day of death!'

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maxim:x7:1
# text = Yes, there was written long ago the good old maxim: 'Think on the great moving-day of death!'
1	Yes	yes	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Pos	5	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	5	expl	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	written	write	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	long	long	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	7	advmod	_	_
7	ago	ago	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
9	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
10	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	maxim	maxim	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
13	'	'	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	Think	think	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
15	on	on	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
17	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
18	moving	moving	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	_
21	of	of	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
22	death	death	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	'	'	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | past · passive |  | the good old maxim |  | there |  | ago *property* | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V» |
| 2 | **think** *speech: other* | infinitive |  |  |  |  | day |  | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* That is a serious thought.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maxim:x7:2
# text = That is a serious thought.
1	That	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	serious	serious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	thought	thought	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | That | a serious thought |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- 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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