---
title: priesthood — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «priesthood» in the school dictionary: The job and calling of being a priest. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# priesthood

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Christians, believer, uncle, He, priesthood, churches · **What happens:** call, be, believe, speak, decide, enter · **To what, where:** priesthood, God, Bible, women, She · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The job and calling of being a priest.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:priesthood:m1:1
# text = The job and calling of being a priest.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	job	job	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	calling	call	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	conj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	8	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	priest	priest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | of a priest | tree rules |

<!-- .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 — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
All the priests of a church or religion together.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:priesthood:m2:1
# text = All the priests of a church or religion together.
1	All	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	3	det:predet	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	priests	priest	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	church	church	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	religion	religion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
9	together	together	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Christians believe in «the priesthood of all believers»: every believer can speak to God directly.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:priesthood:m3:1
# text = Christians believe in «the priesthood of all believers»: every believer can speak to God directly.
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	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	priesthood	priesthood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	9	det	_	_
9	believers	believer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	15	punct	_	_
12	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	13	det	_	_
13	believer	believer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nsubj	_	_
14	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	15	aux	_	_
15	speak	speak	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	parataxis	_	_
16	to	to	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	God	God	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	_
18	directly	directly	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **believe** | present | Christians |  |  | the priesthood of all believers |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **speak** *speech: other* | can | every believer |  | God |  |  | directly *property* | vn talk-37.5 «NP V PP.co-agent»: agent=Agent to god=Co-Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My uncle decided to enter the priesthood.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:priesthood:x1:1
# text = My uncle decided to enter the priesthood.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	uncle	uncle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	decided	decide	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	enter	enter	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	priesthood	priesthood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **decide** | past | My uncle |  |  |  |  |  | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V what S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **enter** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | My uncle *not said here* | the priesthood |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme priesthood=Destination |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He trained for the priesthood for six years.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:priesthood:x2:1
# text = He trained for the priesthood for six years.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	trained	train	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	priesthood	priesthood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	six	six	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **train** | past | He |  |  |  | year | for the priesthood | vn hire-13.5.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the Bible, Aaron and his sons held the priesthood.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:priesthood:x3:1
# text = In the Bible, Aaron and his sons held the priesthood.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	Bible	Bible	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	Aaron	Aaron	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	sons	son	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	conj	_	_
9	held	hold	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	priesthood	priesthood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hold** | past |  | the priesthood |  | the Bible and Aaron and Aaron's sons |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent priesthood=Theme in bible=Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The priesthood of the church met to pray.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:priesthood:x4:1
# text = The priesthood of the church met to pray.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	priesthood	priesthood	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	church	church	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	met	meet	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	pray	pray	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **meet** | past | the priesthood of the church |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **pray** | to-infinitive | the priesthood of the church *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn long-32.2 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Pivot |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some churches allow women in the priesthood and some do not.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:priesthood:x5:1
# text = Some churches allow women in the priesthood and some do not.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	churches	church	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	allow	allow	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	women	woman	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	iobj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	priesthood	priesthood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	10	nsubj	_	_
10	do	do	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
11	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **allow** | present | some churches |  | women | the priesthood |  |  | vn allow-64.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent woman=Beneficiary |
| 2 | **not** **do** | present | some |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She felt called to the priesthood when she was young.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:priesthood:x6:1
# text = She felt called to the priesthood when she was young.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	felt	feel	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	priesthood	priesthood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	10	advmod	_	_
8	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
9	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	young	young	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | past · passive |  | She | the priesthood |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: subject=Topic to priesthood=Recipient |
| 2 | **is** | past | she |  |  |  |  | young *property* | tree rules |

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**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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