---
title: observance — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «observance» in the school dictionary: Following or obeying a law, rule or custom: «observance of the rules». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# observance

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Observance, religious observance, family, Strict observance, Fasting, Different churches · **What happens:** follow, obey, observe, keep, rest, fast · **To what, where:** law, rules, Sabbath, Ramadan, ritual, daily prayer

<!-- .vabout -->
«observance» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings 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: [observance in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/observance.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Following or obeying a law, rule or custom: «observance of the rules».

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:observance:m1:1
# text = Following or obeying a law, rule or custom: «observance of the rules».
1	Following	follow	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	12	case	_	_
2	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	obeying	obey	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	conj	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	law	law	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	rule	rule	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	custom	custom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
11	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	observance	observance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
13	of	of	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **follow** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **obey** | gerund |  | a law and rule or custom |  |  |  |  | vn abide\_by-93.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent law=Theme |
| 3 | **observe** *in a quote* |  |  | the rules |  |  |  |  | nom observance «act transitive»: of=patient |

<!-- .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, religion — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Keeping a religious day or practice, such as resting on the Sabbath or fasting in Ramadan.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:observance:m2:1
# text = Keeping a religious day or practice, such as resting on the Sabbath or fasting in Ramadan.
1	Keeping	keep	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	religious	religious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	practice	practice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=SCONJ	10	mark	_	_
9	as	as	ADP	IN	_	8	fixed	_	_
10	resting	rest	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	conj	_	_
11	on	on	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	Sabbath	Sabbath	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	fasting	fast	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	10	conj	_	_
16	in	in	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	Ramadan	Ramadan	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | gerund |  |  |  |  | day |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **rest** | gerund |  |  |  |  | on the Sabbath |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on sabbath=Location |
| 3 | **fast** | gerund |  |  |  | Ramadan |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A ceremony or ritual held to mark a special day: «religious observances».

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:observance:m3:1
# text = A ceremony or ritual held to mark a special day: «religious observances».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	ceremony	ceremony	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	ritual	ritual	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
5	held	hold	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	mark	mark	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	advcl	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	special	special	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
12	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	religious	religious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	observances	observance	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hold** | participle |  | ritual *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **mark** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  | day |  | vn image\_impression-25.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Observance of the Sabbath means resting on that day.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:observance:x1:1
# text = Observance of the Sabbath means resting on that day.
1	Observance	observance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	Sabbath	Sabbath	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	resting	rest	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	xcomp	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	9	det	_	_
9	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Observance of the Sabbath |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **rest** *not said to happen* | gerund | Observance of the Sabbath *not said here* |  |  |  | day |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **observe** |  |  | the Sabbath |  |  |  |  | nom observance «act transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her family's religious observance includes daily prayer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:observance:x2:1
# text = Her family's religious observance includes daily prayer.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	religious	religious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	observance	observance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	includes	include	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	daily	daily	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	prayer	prayer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **include** | present | Her family's religious observance | daily prayer |  |  |  |  | vn involve-107.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent prayer=Theme |
| 2 | **observe** |  | Her family |  |  |  |  |  | nom observance «act transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The school closed in observance of the holiday.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:observance:x3:1
# text = The school closed in observance of the holiday.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	closed	close	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	observance	observance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	holiday	holiday	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **close** | participle · passive |  | the school |  |  |  | in observance of the holiday | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP PP.recipient PP.theme»: subject=Patient in observance=Topic |
| 2 | **observe** |  |  | the holiday |  |  |  |  | nom observance «act transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Strict observance of the rules kept everyone safe.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:observance:x4:1
# text = Strict observance of the rules kept everyone safe.
1	Strict	strict	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	observance	observance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
6	kept	keep	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	6	obj	_	_
8	safe	safe	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | past | Strict observance of the rules | everyone |  |  |  | safe *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent everyone=Theme |
| 2 | **observe** |  |  | the rules |  |  |  |  | nom observance «act transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fasting is an important observance in Ramadan.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:observance:x5:1
# text = Fasting is an important observance in Ramadan.
1	Fasting	fasting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	important	important	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	observance	observance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	Ramadan	Ramadan	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Different churches have different observances in Lent.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:observance:x6:1
# text = Different churches have different observances in Lent.
1	Different	different	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	churches	church	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	different	different	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	observances	observance	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	Lent	Lent	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Different churches | different observances |  | Lent |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent observance=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Many of these fables are characterized by the strictest observance of these rules.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:observance:x7:1
# text = Many of these fables are characterized by the strictest observance of these rules.
1	Many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	nsubj	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	these	this	DET	DT	Number=Plur|PronType=Dem	4	det	_	_
4	fables	fable	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	nmod	_	_
5	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	characterized	characterize	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
7	by	by	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	strictest	strict	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	10	amod	_	_
10	observance	observance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl:agent	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	these	this	DET	DT	Number=Plur|PronType=Dem	13	det	_	_
13	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **characterize** | present · passive | the strictest observance of this rules | Many of this fables |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent subject=Theme |
| 2 | **observe** |  |  | this rules |  |  |  |  | nom observance «act transitive»: of=patient |

<!-- 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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