---
title: overrule — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «overrule» in the school dictionary: To overrule someone is to change their decision because you have more power or authority. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# overrule

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, their, judge, objection, Mum, we · **What happens:** overrule, be, have, decide, not be, say · **To what, where:** someone, more power, objection, Dad, class vote, linesman · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«overrule» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [overrule in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/overrule.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To overrule someone is to change their decision because you have more power or authority.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:overrule:m1:1
# text = To overrule someone is to change their decision because you have more power or authority.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	overrule	overrule	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	csubj	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	change	change	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	decision	decision	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
10	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
11	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	advcl	_	_
12	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	13	amod	_	_
13	power	power	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	authority	authority	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **overrule** | to-infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | change *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **have** | present | you | more power or authority |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent power=Patient |
| 4 | **decide** |  | their *= they* |  |  |  |  |  | nom decision «act transitive»: poss=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: law — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A judge overrules an objection when he or she decides it is not valid.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:overrule:m2:1
# text = A judge overrules an objection when he or she decides it is not valid.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	judge	judge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	overrules	overrule	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	objection	objection	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	10	mark	_	_
7	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	conj	_	_
10	decides	decide	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
12	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	cop	_	_
13	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	14	advmod	_	_
14	valid	valid	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **overrule** | present | a judge | a objection |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **decide** | present | judge |  |  |  |  |  | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **not** **is** | present | objection |  |  |  |  | valid *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum overruled Dad and said we could stay up.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:overrule:x1:1
# text = Mum overruled Dad and said we could stay up.
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	overruled	overrule	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	Dad	Dad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
6	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
7	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	stay	stay	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	ccomp	_	_
9	up	up	ADP	RP	_	8	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **overrule** | past | Mum | Dad |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | Mum *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **stay up** | could | we |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The head teacher overruled the class vote.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:overrule:x2:1
# text = The head teacher overruled the class vote.
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	overruled	overrule	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	vote	vote	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **overrule** | past | the head teacher | the class vote |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Objection overruled,» said the judge.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:overrule:x3:1
# text = «Objection overruled,» said the judge.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Objection	objection	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	overruled	overrule	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
6	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	judge	judge	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 | **overrule** *in a quote* | participle |  | Objection *not said here* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | the judge |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The referee overruled the linesman.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:overrule:x4:1
# text = The referee overruled the linesman.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	referee	referee	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	overruled	overrule	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	linesman	linesman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **overrule** | past | the referee | the linesman |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The captain can overrule the crew.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:overrule:x5:1
# text = The captain can overrule the crew.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	captain	captain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	overrule	overrule	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	crew	crew	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **overrule** | can | the captain | the crew |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our decision was overruled by the council.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:overrule:x6:1
# text = Our decision was overruled by the council.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	decision	decision	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	overruled	overrule	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	council	council	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **overrule** | past · passive | the council | Our decision |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **decide** |  | Our |  |  |  |  |  | nom decision «act transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My big sister tried to overrule me, but it was my turn.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:overrule:x7:1
# text = My big sister tried to overrule me, but it was my turn.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	sister	sister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	tried	try	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	overrule	overrule	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
9	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
11	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
12	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
13	turn	turn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | past | My big sister |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **overrule** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | My big sister *not said here* | me |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **is a** | past | it | my turn |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The higher court overruled the first decision.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:overrule:x8:1
# text = The higher court overruled the first decision.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	higher	high	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	3	amod	_	_
3	court	court	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	overruled	overrule	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	7	amod	_	_
7	decision	decision	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **overrule** | past | the higher court | the first decision |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She entreated the King to allow the Prince to visit her, and after some hesitation which was overruled by his wife, he finally consented.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:overrule:x9:1
# text = She entreated the King to allow the Prince to visit her, and after some hesitation which was overruled by his wife, he finally consented.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	entreated	entreat	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	King	King	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	allow	allow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	Prince	Prince	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	visit	visit	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
11	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	26	punct	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	26	cc	_	_
14	after	after	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	16	det	_	_
16	hesitation	hesitation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	26	obl	_	_
17	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	19	nsubj:pass	_	_
18	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	19	aux:pass	_	_
19	overruled	overrule	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	16	acl:relcl	_	_
20	by	by	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
21	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	22	nmod:poss	_	_
22	wife	wife	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
24	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	26	nsubj	_	_
25	finally	finally	ADV	RB	_	26	advmod	_	_
26	consented	consent	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **entreat** | past | She |  | the King |  |  |  | vn urge-58.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent king=Recipient |
| 2 | **allow** | to-infinitive | She *not said here* | the Prince |  |  |  |  | vn allow-64.1-1 «NP V NP S»: agent=Causer prince=Beneficiary clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **visit** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | the Prince *not said here* | her *= she* |  |  |  |  | vn meet-36.3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent she=Co-Agent |
| 4 | **overrule** | past · passive | King's wife | some hesitation |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **consent** | past | King |  |  |  | after some hesitation | finally *property* | vn acquiesce-95.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- 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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