---
title: precept — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «precept» in the school dictionary: A rule or principle telling people how to behave or think. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# precept

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** rule, you, Christians, Buddhists, five precepts, teacher · **What happens:** tell, behave, think, write, treat, want · **To what, where:** people, others, famous precept, precepts, five precepts, things · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«precept» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [precept in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/precept.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A rule or principle telling people how to behave or think.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:precept:m1:1
# text = A rule or principle telling people how to behave or think.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	rule	rule	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	principle	principle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
5	telling	tell	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	acl	_	_
6	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	iobj	_	_
7	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	9	advmod	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	behave	behave	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	think	think	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | gerund | a rule or principle *not said here* |  | people |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent people=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 2 | **behave** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | a rule or principle *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn masquerade-29.6-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **think** *speech: other* | infinitive | a rule or principle *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn focus-87.1-1 «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: church, Bible — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A command or teaching from God or a religious teacher.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:precept:m2:1
# text = A command or teaching from God or a religious teacher.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	command	command	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	teaching	teaching	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	God	God	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	religious	religious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An official written order.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:precept:m3:1
# text = An official written order.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	official	official	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	written	write	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	amod	_	_
4	order	order	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Treat others as you want to be treated" is a famous precept.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:precept:x1:1
# text = "Treat others as you want to be treated" is a famous precept.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Treat	treat	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	csubj	_	_
3	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	want	want	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
8	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	aux:pass	_	_
9	treated	treat	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
11	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	cop	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	famous	famous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	precept	precept	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	14	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 | **want** *in a quote* | present | 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 precept |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Christians believe the precepts of the Bible guide how to live.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:precept:x2:1
# text = Christians believe the precepts of the Bible guide how to live.
1	Christians	Christian	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	believe	believe	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	precepts	precept	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	Bible	Bible	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	guide	guide	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
9	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	11	advmod	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	live	live	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **believe** | present | Christians | the precepts of the Bible guide |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer precept=Stimulus |
| 2 | **live** | to-infinitive | Christians *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Buddhists follow five precepts, such as not harming living things.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:precept:x3:1
# text = Buddhists follow five precepts, such as not harming living things.
1	Buddhists	buddhist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	follow	follow	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	five	five	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	precepts	precept	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
6	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=SCONJ	9	mark	_	_
7	as	as	ADP	IN	_	6	fixed	_	_
8	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
9	harming	harm	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	acl	_	_
10	living	live	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	9	xcomp	_	_
11	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **follow** | present | Buddhists | five precepts |  |  |  |  | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent precept=Theme |
| 2 | **not** **harm** | gerund | five precepts *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **live** | gerund | five precepts *not said here* | things |  |  |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V ADV»: agent=Theme thing=Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our teacher taught us more by example than by precept.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:precept:x4:1
# text = Our teacher taught us more by example than by precept.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	taught	teach	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	3	obj	_	_
6	by	by	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	example	example	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
8	than	than	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	by	by	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	precept	precept	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **teach** *speech: other* | past | Our teacher | more | us |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent we=Recipient more=Topic |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Honesty is the first precept of our school rules.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:precept:x5:1
# text = Honesty is the first precept of our school rules.
1	Honesty	honesty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	5	amod	_	_
5	precept	precept	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
8	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Honesty | the first precept |  |  |  | of our school rules | tree rules |
| 2 | **rule** |  | our |  |  |  |  |  | nom rule «cognition intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The old book was full of wise precepts.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:precept:x6:1
# text = The old book was full of wise precepts.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	full	full	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	wise	wise	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	precepts	precept	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the old book |  |  |  |  | of wise precepts; full *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The monks lived by strict precepts.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:precept:x7:1
# text = The monks lived by strict precepts.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	monks	monk	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	lived	live	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	by	by	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	strict	strict	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	precepts	precept	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Example is more powerful than precept.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:precept:x8:1
# text = Example is more powerful than precept.
1	Example	example	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	more	more	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	4	advmod	_	_
4	powerful	powerful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	than	than	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	precept	precept	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Example |  |  |  |  | than precept; powerful *property* | 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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