---
title: oath — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «oath» in the school dictionary: An oath is a serious promise, often in front of others or in a court, that you will tell the truth or do something. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# oath

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** oath, you, witness, knight, Lying, New doctors · **What happens:** be, tell, do, mean, have, promise · **To what, where:** serious promise, front, truth, something, oath, court · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An oath is a serious promise, often in front of others or in a court, that you will tell the truth or do something.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oath:m1:1
# text = An oath is a serious promise, often in front of others or in a court, that you will tell the truth or do something.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	oath	oath	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	serious	serious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	promise	promise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	often	often	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	front	front	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nmod	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
14	in	in	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	court	court	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
18	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	21	mark	_	_
19	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	21	nsubj	_	_
20	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	21	aux	_	_
21	tell	tell	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	parataxis	_	_
22	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
23	truth	truth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	obj	_	_
24	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	25	cc	_	_
25	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	21	conj	_	_
26	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	25	obj	_	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 oath | a serious promise |  | front of others or a court |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* | future | you | the truth |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent truth=Recipient |
| 3 | **do** | infinitive | you *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |

<!-- .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.

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"the witness took an oath".

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oath:m1e:1
# text = "the witness took an oath".
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	witness	witness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	oath	oath	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** *in a quote* | past | the witness | a oath |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent oath=Theme |

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Under oath means having promised in a court to tell the truth.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oath:m2:1
# text = Under oath means having promised in a court to tell the truth.
1	Under	under	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	oath	oath	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	having	have	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	ccomp	_	_
5	promised	promise	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	xcomp	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	court	court	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	tell	tell	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	advcl	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	truth	truth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present |  |  |  | oath |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **have** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **promise** *speech: promise* | participle |  |  |  | a court |  |  | vn promise-37.13 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **tell** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive |  | the truth |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent truth=Recipient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An oath is a swear word or curse said in anger.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oath:m3:1
# text = An oath is a swear word or curse said in anger.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	oath	oath	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	swear	swear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	curse	curse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
9	said	say	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	acl	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	anger	anger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a oath | a swear word or curse |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | participle |  | curse *not said here* |  | anger |  |  | vn pronounce-29.3.1 «NP V NP PP.manner»: agent=Agent in anger=Manner |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The knight swore an oath to protect the queen.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oath:x1:1
# text = The knight swore an oath to protect the queen.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	knight	knight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	swore	swear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	oath	oath	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	protect	protect	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	queen	queen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **swear** | past | the knight | a oath |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5 «NP V NP to be NP»: agent=Agent oath=Eventuality |
| 2 | **protect** | to-infinitive | the knight *not said here* |  | the queen |  |  |  | vn defend-72.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent queen=Beneficiary |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The witness took an oath to tell the truth.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oath:x2:1
# text = The witness took an oath to tell the truth.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	witness	witness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	oath	oath	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	tell	tell	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	truth	truth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | past | the witness | a oath |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent oath=Theme |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive | the witness *not said here* | the truth |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent truth=Recipient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Lying under oath is a crime.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oath:x3:1
# text = Lying under oath is a crime.
1	Lying	lie	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	csubj	_	_
2	under	under	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	oath	oath	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	crime	crime	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lie** | gerund |  |  |  | oath |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent under oath=Location |
| 2 | **is a** | present | Lying | a crime |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
New doctors take an oath to care for patients.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oath:x4:1
# text = New doctors take an oath to care for patients.
1	New	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	doctors	doctor	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	take	take	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	oath	oath	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	care	care	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	patients	patient	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | present | New doctors | a oath |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent oath=Theme |
| 2 | **care** | to-infinitive | New doctors *not said here* |  |  |  |  | for patients | vn caring-75.2-2 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent for patient=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Blast!" — the old sailor let out an oath.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oath:x5:1
# text = "Blast!" — the old sailor let out an oath.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Blast	blast	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
5	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	sailor	sailor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
9	let	let	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	acl	_	_
10	out	out	ADP	RP	_	9	compound:prt	_	_
11	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	oath	oath	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 | **let out** | participle | the old sailor *not said here* | a oath |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent oath=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The friends swore an oath never to tell the secret.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oath:x6:1
# text = The friends swore an oath never to tell the secret.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	friends	friend	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	swore	swear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	oath	oath	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	tell	tell	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	secret	secret	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **swear** | past | the friends | a oath |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5 «NP V NP to be NP»: agent=Agent oath=Eventuality |
| 2 | **not** **tell** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive | the friends *not said here* | the secret |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent secret=Recipient |

<!-- 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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