---
title: precedent — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «precedent» in the school dictionary: An action or decision from the past that is used as an example or rule for what to do later. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# precedent

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** earlier judgement, I, you, it, judge, flood · **What happens:** use, do, follow, let, stay up, set · **To what, where:** past, that, similar cases, you, precedent, earlier case

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An action or decision from the past that is used as an example or rule for what to do later.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:precedent:m1:1
# text = An action or decision from the past that is used as an example or rule for what to do later.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	action	action	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	decision	decision	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	past	past	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
8	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj:pass	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux:pass	_	_
10	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	acl:relcl	_	_
11	as	as	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	example	example	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	rule	rule	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	_
16	for	for	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	15	appos	_	_
18	to	to	PART	TO	_	19	mark	_	_
19	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	17	acl	_	_
20	later	late	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	19	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present · passive |  | the past |  |  |  | as a example or rule | vn spend\_time-104 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: subject=Duration as example=Attribute |
| 2 | **do** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | late *property* | vn act-114-1 «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: law — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An earlier judgement in court that judges follow in similar cases.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:precedent:m2:1
# text = An earlier judgement in court that judges follow in similar cases.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	earlier	early	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	3	amod	_	_
3	judgement	judgement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	court	court	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	8	obj	_	_
7	judges	judge	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
8	follow	follow	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	similar	similar	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	cases	case	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **follow** | present | a earlier judgement in court | that |  | similar cases |  |  | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent that=Theme in case=Trajectory |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
If I let you stay up late, it will set a precedent.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:precedent:x1:1
# text = If I let you stay up late, it will set a precedent.
1	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	3	mark	_	_
2	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	let	let	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	advcl	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	stay	stay	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	up	up	ADP	RP	_	5	compound:prt	_	_
7	late	late	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
10	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
11	set	set	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	precedent	precedent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **let** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | I | you |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **stay up** | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | late *property* | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **set** | future | it | a precedent |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4-1 «NP V NP ADJ»: agent=Patient precedent=Result |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The judge followed a precedent from an earlier case.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:precedent:x2:1
# text = The judge followed a precedent from an earlier case.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	judge	judge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	followed	follow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	precedent	precedent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	earlier	early	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	9	amod	_	_
9	case	case	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **follow** | past | the judge | a precedent |  | a earlier case |  |  | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent precedent=Theme from case=Trajectory |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The flood was without precedent in the town's history.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:precedent:x3:1
# text = The flood was without precedent in the town's history.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	flood	flood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	without	without	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	precedent	precedent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	town	town	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	's	's	PART	POS	_	8	case	_	_
10	history	history	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the flood |  |  | the town's history |  | without precedent | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her election as the first woman leader set a precedent.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:precedent:x4:1
# text = Her election as the first woman leader set a precedent.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	election	election	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	as	as	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	7	amod	_	_
6	woman	woman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	leader	leader	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
8	set	set	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	precedent	precedent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **set** | past | Her election as the first woman leader | a precedent |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4-1 «NP V NP ADJ»: agent=Patient precedent=Result |
| 2 | **elect** |  | Her *= she* |  |  |  |  | as the first woman leader | nom election «act transitive»: poss=agent as=obl |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There is no precedent for a dog joining the school choir.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:precedent:x5:1
# text = There is no precedent for a dog joining the school choir.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	4	det	_	_
4	precedent	precedent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
8	joining	join	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	acl	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	choir	choir	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | present | no precedent for a dog |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **join** | gerund | a dog *not said here* | the school choir |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent choir=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Courts in England follow precedent.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:precedent:x6:1
# text = Courts in England follow precedent.
1	Courts	court	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	in	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	England	England	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
4	follow	follow	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	precedent	precedent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **follow** | present | Courts in England | precedent |  |  |  |  | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent precedent=Theme |

<!-- 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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